Arts·Q with Tom Power

'Outsider poet' Iman Mersal on her book The Threshold

Mersal is one of Egypt's most celebrated and groundbreaking poets. Now, a collection of her work translated into English is a finalist for this year's Griffin Poetry Prize. She joined Q's Tom Power to tell us more.

Mersal is a finalist for the the 2023 Griffin Poetry Prize

Illustrated book cover of a blue, red and pink face with eyes closed, black and white text overlaid. Woman with short black hair in black blazer and pink shirt standing in front of a green background.
The Threshold is a selection of luminous, fiercely intelligent verse from Egypt’s premier poet, Iman Mersal. (Lesung & Gespr, Macmillan)

Iman Mersal is one of Egypt's most celebrated and groundbreaking poets. Now, a collection of her work translated into English, titled The Threshold, is on the shortlist for this year's Griffin Poetry Prize. Mersal joined Q's Tom Power to talk about the first poem she ever wrote, what it was like going back and reading her poetry from the '90s, and why she stopped writing for five years when she moved to Canada.

The full interview with Iman Mersal is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.


Interview with Iman Mersal produced by Jennifer Warren.

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