 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 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* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
