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Authors, sign in!Because I cannot remain silent
Because Goliath has once again
raised it ruthless hand
against a beleaguered population
Because the world has lost its tongue
the media its righteous arm
in blind complicity
Because the Christian and Moslem
population of Palestine
has suffered too long
I offer you this translation
of Nizar Qabaani.
May peace shine down
like a soothing ray of sun.
May the forces of justice reign strong
on a region rent by rage.
May the bleeding stop
the killing cease
the bombs lie down
and rest forever
in their fettered bunkers.
5 AM, January 13, 2009
Herndon, Virginia
The Infuriated
by Nizzar Qabbani
Translated by Mike Maggio
Oh students of Gaza
teach us from among you
for we have forgotten
teach us how to be men--
for our men have become dough.
Teach us how
between the hands of children
stones become precious diamonds
how a child's bicycle becomes a mine
and a silk ribbon an ambush.
How a pacifier
if it is not seized
is transformed into a knife.
Oh students of Gaza
pay no attention to what we have done.
Don't listen to us.
Strike! Strike!
This is a revolution
of books and pens
so make your lips sing.
Shower us with bravery and pride
and cleanse us of our shamefulness.
Cleanse us.
Don't fear Moses
and don't flatter him.
Stand ready to harvest the olives
for this Zionist Age and delusion
will be driven away
if we hold fast.
Oh obsessed ones of Gaza
a thousand welcomes
to the obsessed
for they shall free us.
The days of political reason
have gone with the past.
So teach us obsession.
Published January 14, 2009 by Mike Maggio |
Permalink
| Tags:
Israel
Middle East
Palestine
Peace
War
Comments (2)
Thank you Mike. This is exactly what was needed on this day.
Posted by Nora Thomason
|
January 14, 2009 3:18 PM
Posted on January 14, 2009 15:18
Thanks for your comments, Nora. I hope people will begin to see the other side of this sad, sad story.
Posted by Mike Maggio
|
January 14, 2009 5:26 PM
Posted on January 14, 2009 17:26