Wednesday, August 13, 2008

RIP in Mahmoud Darwish





Psalm 9

O rose beyond the reach of time and of the senses

O kiss enveloped in the scarves of all the winds

surprise me with one dream

that my madness will recoil from you.

***

Recoiling from you

In order to approach you

I discovered time.

***

Approaching you

in order to recoil from you

I discovered my senses.

***

Between approach and recoil

there is a stone the size of a dream

It does not approach

It does not recoil.

***

You are my country

A stone is not what I am

therefore I do not like to face the sky

nor do I die level with the ground

but I am a stranger, always a stranger.