Sound and visual symbolism in Mohja Kahf’s ( <i>an-nadb</i> ) poem “what do we do during genocide?”

This paper examines the elegiac expressions of pain, mourning, and resistance in Mohja Kahf’s poem “What Do We Do During Genocide?,” focusing on lamentation (an-nadb) as an aspect of elegy in Arabic poetry. It explores the sound and visual symbolism employed in this an-nadb poem, particularly its depiction of crying as a key literary device. The poem mourns the tragedies in Gaza, the decline of humanity, and the anguish of Arab diasporic communities, expressing these themes through auditory and visual elements. The analysis considers sound symbolism, including voiced and voiceless sounds, as well as phonemic symbolism, while investigating how the visual arrangement of words, punctuation, syntax, and capitalization enhances meaning. Features such as fragmented syntax, irregular line lengths, and repeated phrases evoke the emotional surge inherent in wailing. By analyzing these sound and visual elements, the paper demonstrates how the poem uses the elegiac form to convey grief while calling for awareness, solidarity, and resistance against genocide. This study highlights lamentation as a dynamic act of resistance, reclaiming voice and preserving memory in the face of erasure and violence.