The national Palestinian poet, and author (1941–2008)
Mahmoud Darwish (13 March 1941 – 9 August 2008) was a Palestinian poet and author who was regarded as the Palestinian national poet. He won numerous awards for his works. Darwish used Palestine as a metaphor for the loss of Eden, birth and resurrection, and the anguish of dispossession and exile. He also served as an editor for several literary magazines in Palestine.
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Life to the last drop
If someone said to me again: ‘Supposing you were to die tomorrow, what would you do?’ I wouldn’t need any time to reply. If I felt drowsy, I would sleep. If I was thirsty, I would drink. If I was writing, I might like what I was writing and ignore the question. If I was having lunch, I would add a little mustard and pepper to the slice of grilled meat. If I was shaving, I might cut my earlobe. If I was kissing my girlfriend, I would devour her lips as if they were figs. If I was reading, I would skip a few pages. If I was peeling an onion, I would shed a few tears. If I was walking, I would continue walking at a slower pace. If I existed, as I do now, then I wouldn’t think about not existing. If I didn’t exist, then the question wouldn’t bother me. If I was listening to Mozart, I would already be close to the realms of the angels. If I was asleep, I would carry on sleeping and dream blissfully of gardenias. If I was laughing, I would cut my laughter by half out of respect for the information. What else could I do, even if I was braver than an idiot and stronger than Hercules?
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"أنزِل ، هنا ، والآن ، عن كتِفَيكَ قبرَكَ
وأعطِ عُمركَ فُرصةً أخرى لترميم الحكاية
ليس كلُّ الحبِّ موتاً
ليست الأرضُ اغتراباً مزمناً ،
فلربما جاءت مناسبةٌ ، فتنسى
لسعةَ العسلِ القديم ، كأن تحبَّ
وأنت لا تدرى فتاةً لا تحبّكَ
أو تحبُّكَ ، دون أن تدرى لماذا
لا تحبُّك أو تحبُّك /
أو تُحسَّ وأنت مستندٌ على درَجٍ
بأنك كنتَ غيرك فى الثنائياتِ /
فاخرج من "أنا" ك إلى سواكَ
ومن رؤاكَ إلى خطاكَ
ومد جسركَ عالياً ،
فاللامكانُ هو المكيدة ،
والبعوضُ على السياجِ يحُكُّ ظهرَكَ ،
قد تُذكّرك البعوضةُ بالحياة !
فجرّب الآن الحياةَ لكى تدربكَ الحياةُ
على الحياةِ ،
وخفِّف الذكرى عن الأنثى
وأنزل
ها هنا
والآن
عن كتفيك ... قبرك !"