A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| [POEM] Mohamed by Mahmoud Darwish |
|---|
| jannah |
| 03/06/02 at 03:23:26 |
| Some amazing poetry about the intifada and the martyr muhammad durra: MOHAMED By Mahmoud Darwish Mohamed, nestles in the bosom of his father, a bird afraid of the infernal sky: father protect me from the upward flight! My wing is slight for the wind … and the light is black Mohamed, wants to return home, with no bicycle ... or new shirt yearns for the school bench … the notebook of grammar and conjugation. Take me to our home, father, to prepare for my lessons to continue being, little by little … on the seashore, under the palms … and nothing further, nothing further Mohamed, faces an army, with no stone or shrapnel of stars, does not notice the wall to say: my freedom will not die, for he has no freedom yet to defend. No perspective for the dove of Pablo Picasso. He continues to be born, continues in a name bearing him the curse of the name. How many times will his self give birth to a child with no home ... with no time for childhood? Where will he dream if the dream would come … and land is a wound ... and a temple? Mohamed, sees his inescapable death approaching. But then remembers, a panther he has seen on the tv screen, a fierce one besieging a suckling fawn. When panther came near and smelt the milk, it would not pounce. As if the milk tames the wild beast. Hence, I will survive - says the boy - and weeps: for my life is there hidden in my mother's chest. I will survive ... and witness Mohamed, a destitute angel, within a stone's throw from the gun of his cold blooded hunter. For an hour the camera traces the movements of the boy who is merging with his shadow: his face, clear, like dawn his heart, clear, like an apple his ten fingers, clear, like candles the dew clear on his trousers … His hunter could have reflected twice, and say: I will spare him till when he spells his Palestine without mistakes ... I will spare him now subject to my conscience and kill him the day he rebels! Mohamed, an infant Jesus, sleeps and dreams in the heart of an icon made of copper an olive branch and the soul of a people renewed Mohamed, blood beyond the need of the prophets for what they seek, so ascend to the Ultimate Tree Mohamed ! Translation from Arabic by Amr Khadr* |
| Re: [POEM] Mohamed by Mahmoud Darwish |
|---|
| jaihoon |
| 03/06/02 at 06:03:14 |
| [slm] The palestinian cause is a shame on humanity... almost half a century of suffering and yet no end to the problem :( Much has been written and said about the palestinian cause. The Arabic intelligentsia has been focussing on this issue since it began. And it does deserve much attention. However, this tendency has led to the spread of nationalistic feelings among the Arabs much more than their loyalty to Islam. The palestininan issue has blinded the poets and writers as the only issue to write about. It'd be great if they focus on other issues as well, especially international issues and also bring out works that benefit readers from other cultural backgrounds. |
| Re: [POEM] Mohamed by Mahmoud Darwish |
|---|
| jannah |
| 03/06/02 at 15:08:02 |
| wlm, jaihoon, you're right about that but it seems that as the arab community focus's on it to the extent that they're paralyzed over it psychologically. (you should see the stuff they show on syrian tv about it-- just heartbreaking!) I think at the same time, the international muslim community forgets the issue and God forbid the day we think the palestine issue is about "nationalism". No doubt there are some who think it is, especially the christians that also live in there, but we shouldn't let that interfere with our support for our fellow oppressed muslims or for supporting what is right.. |
| Re: [POEM] Mohamed by Mahmoud Darwish |
|---|
| jaihoon |
| 03/06/02 at 17:51:58 |
| [quote author=jannah link=board=bookstore;num=1015403007;start=0#2 date=03/06/02 at 15:08:02] you're right about that but it seems that as the arab community focus's on it to the extent that they're paralyzed over it psychologically.[/quote] YES. 'psychological' is the word. The harm is more on the mind, than the body. And why not? When in the middle of a dozen ARAB states, a single JEWISH state smiles showing its ugly zionist teeth... and the whole arab race can do nothing about it! The zionists can go on killing and mutilating the innocents while teasing- You missed me, You missed me... while the international community can hold conferences about human rights violation in Iraq and other countries. As zionist troops pose for photographs standing in front of the children killed in palestine, Uncle Sam can add further acronyms like 'Axis of Evil' to the existing political dictionary. 'kya duniya mein panapne ki yehi batein hai?' ??? :'( |
| Re: [POEM] Mohamed by Mahmoud Darwish |
|---|
| siddiqui |
| 03/24/02 at 01:12:53 |
| [slm] Take heart I am reminded of a few verses from qamar jalalawi 's poem "ZALIMON APNE KISMAT PE NAAZ NA HO DAUR BADLEGA YEH WAQT KI BAAT HAI WOH YAQINAN SUNEGA SADAYEN MERI KYA TUMHARA KHUDA HAI HUMARA NAHI" "MY TORMENTERS ! DONT BE EUPHORIC WITH YOUR SUCESSES THE TIDE WILL TURN IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME HE WILL DEFINETLY ANSWER MY SUPPLICATIONS FOR IS HE JUST YOUR LORD AND NOT MINE?" [wlm] |
| 03/24/02 at 01:15:37 |
| siddiqui |
| Re: [POEM] Mohamed by Mahmoud Darwish |
|---|
| Shahida |
| 04/09/02 at 09:45:42 |
| [slm] Jannah, I loved the poem (not only becuz Mahmoud Darwish is my favourite poet, mashaAllah! ;) )...just wanted to ask if you know where I can find the original Arabic? Agreed Jaihoon, there are many more things to focus on. But you cannot forget the importance of the Palestinian struggle, which is central to our collective situation as Muslims. Mahmoud Darwish is Palestinian by the way, and he writes from the perspective of someone who has experienced, and continues to suffer, the cruelty and oppression associated with the occupation. He writes about what he knows and the collective wounds of the Palestinian society. I think it is unfair to want him, and others like him, to ignore what is happening to and around them, and focus on other issues. It is their way of breaking through the chains of oppression and conveying to us what they have been going through. I enjoy ALL his poetry, and hope he will continue inshaAllah. [slm] Shahida |
| Re: [POEM] Mohamed by Mahmoud Darwish |
|---|
| jannah |
| 04/09/02 at 15:25:38 |
| Shahida I don't think that site had the original Arabic, just the translation. |
| Re: [POEM] Mohamed by Mahmoud Darwish |
|---|
| Shahida |
| 04/10/02 at 06:14:09 |
| [slm] Jazaki Allahu khairun for trying to find it...doesn't matter, it will pop up somewhere, sometime inshaAllah. Thanx Jannah :) Salam Shahida |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |