Cutting Pomegranates

 

My father quartered them with the bread knife

an old enemy, gripped me in its cunning

certain it would slip, spill blood

red as the juice on our skins.

 

We learnt with skill to bite hard

ease out each firm sweet seed,

ignore bitter stab of skin on tongue,

outback kids testing out terrain.

 

Sometimes I refused,

hating harsh kickbacks, only to envy brothers

thick shell flat against lips,

eyes mocking, bright dribble of promise

on their chins.

 

© Miriam Halahmy


      Photos by Oded Halahmy


Comments from young people about HIDDEN.

I really enjoyed your book, it made me think about other people in other countries more. Can't wait to read ILLEGAL.

Holly Parkes.

I very much enjoyed Hidden  and  if I was you I would sign it for every book in every school so they can remember who wrote the book and how amazing that person  is at writing such an amazing book. I found it so interesting.This is a book review for Hidden.
Lucy Crawford. Portsmouth.

With Lucy at Ports Lit Quiz With Lucy at Ports Lit Quiz

I very much enjoyed Hidden and it made me think about asylum seekers and refugees. Alix and Samir inspired me very much!

Miriam Summerfield, 13 yrs.

I liked this book a lot as it has a very original subject which I hardly knew about. I would recommend it to any friend.

Jess Rodnight, 12 yrs.

Amazing book, I would recommend it to everyone. A real page turner. Go and buy it now. 

Jad Faki, 13 yrs

Hidden addresses one of the most current debates in the UK today - immigration and asylum seekers. Miriam addresses this with flare and to top it all its based on our home town - Hayling Island. Miriam Halahmy is truly a magnificent author. She makes you think and think.

Phoebe Ridgway, 14 yrs.

How did you link an Iraqi young man called Mohammed to a relatively unheard of island called Hayling?

Jordan Shortman,

15 yrs.

Interview for the Hayling Islander.

I am not much of a reader but I read pretty much the whole book in a day....The story was really good!

Ellie, 14 years.

Although I am more into dark and mysterious books I thought that this book gave me an insight into a topic I do not know well. I do know Hayling very well and I was wondering whether this was based on a true story?

Jesse, 14 years

No Jesse, this is not a true story, but there are many true bits to it, as told to me by asylum seekers. I am glad you enjoyed the book.

Miriam Halahmy