Shatr's 'Poppies in October' is a Poetic Tribute to Gaza

Rapture Records has just released ‘Poppies in October’, an audio poetry project by Lebanese art collective Shatr. The six-track release, which takes its title from Sylvia Plath’s poem, responds to the ongoing war on Gaza. Shatr, established in 2022 by Sarah Huneidi, Nadine Makarem and Theresa Sahyoun, aims to contribute to Beirut’s poetry culture by creating a space for both classical and contemporary forms of language.

‘Poppies in October’ combines original production with traditional Palestinian literature and modern texts by Sahyoun and Makarem. The project incorporates sound clips from various historical, literary and media sources. The collection also serves as a tribute to Palestinian writers Refaat Alaraeer and Salim Al Naffar, who were killed in 2023.

Proceeds from the project will support ULYP's Gaza Student Emergency Fund, which aids Gazan medical students.