Touqan

They drew up the map of the road to life
they paved it with precious stones and with their
young hearts
they raised their hearts as stones on their palms
embers and flame
and with these they pelted the monster of the
road,
now is the time to show courage and strength,
their voice was heard strong everywhere
it reverberated everywhere
and there was courage and strength
they died standing
blazing on the road
shining like stars
their lips pressed to the lips of life.

Death charged and drove its scythe through them
they stood up in the face of death
fairer than palm groves
fairer than the yield of wheat
fairer than bright day rising
fairer than the trees which the rain has bathed in
the lap of dawn
they rose they sprang they were on their way to
the battlefield
and there they spread like balls of fire
they burned they shone and gave forth light
in the middle of the road--and then disappeared
like the sun.

Ah dream of theirs which appear in the distance
embracing the happy future!
You will bring about their rebirth
along with their great tomorrow.
Their rebirth will come will rise out of the depth
of death and darkness,
on its face it bears good tidings
and on its broad brow a star shines.

Earth shall suckle him all through life
neither the concentrations of evil
nor the demons of earth land and sea
shall tear him from its breasts
never will he be weaned whatever the usurper's
cruelty
he shall not be weaned
until in a perfidious night death paints
the nipples of the bountiful breasts with the juice
of bitter apple.

Look at them in the distance!
How they rise up higher and higher
while the whole world watches!
How they climb up ever higher
on a ladder of their gushing blood!
Never shall treacherous death seize their hearts
as long as rebirth and the new dawn
remain their vision which guides them on the path
of sacrifice!
Look at them falcons in their Intifada
how they join to the heavens the land and their
sacred country!