Monday, August 22, 2011

Mahmoud Darwish: "Silence for Gaza" محمود درويش: صمت من اجل غزة

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Below is an excerpt from an article written by Mahmoud Darwish, one of the Arab world's most renowned poets. He passed away in Palestine 3 years ago. Below, he describes Gaza's special beauty. Enjoy! 








"...ليست غزة أجمل المدن..
ليس شاطئها أشد زرقة من شؤاطئ المدن العربية‏‏
وليس برتقالها أجمل برتقال على حوض البحر الأبيض.
وليست غزة أغنى المدن..
وليست أرقى المدن وليست أكبر المدن. ولكنها تعادل تاريخ أمة
لأنها أشد قبحا في عيون الأعداء، وفقرا وبؤسا وشراسة.
 لأنها أشدنا قدرة على تعكير مزاج العدو وراحته، 
لأنها كابوسه،
 لأنها برتقال ملغوم، وأطفال بلا طفولة وشيوخ بلا شيخوخة، 
ونساء بلا رغبات،
 لأنها كذلك فهي أجملنا وأصفانا وأغنانا 
وأكثرنا جدارة بالحب.."
من قصيدة محمود درويش "صمت من اجل غزة"



Its shore is not bluer than the shores of Arab cities.
Its oranges are not the most beautiful in the Mediterranean.
Gaza is not the richest city.
It is not the most elegant or the biggest, but it equals the
history of an entire nation.
Because it is more ugly, impoverished, miserable,
and vicious in the eyes of enemies.
Because it is the most capable, among us,
of disturbing the enemy’s mood and comfort.
Because it is his nightmare.
Because is minded oranges, children without a childhood,
old men without age and women without desires
Because of all this it is the most beautiful, the purest and richest among us,
and the one most worthy of love.
Mahmoud Darwish, “Silence for Gaza”

17 comments:

  1. Okay so this a bit of topic, I notice you are from Gaza and obviously a Muslim girl, and you don't cover your hair. Is it socially acceptable there? From the people I've spoken to they have painted a picture that Gaza is like Iran and girls aren't allowed to walk in public without covering their hair and wearing short sleeves?

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