Land Day: We Have On This Earth

My favourite poem by Mahmoud Darwish is We Have On This Earth.


We have on this earth what makes life worth living:
April’s hesitation
The aroma of bread at dawn
A woman’s opinion of men
The works of Aeschylus
The beginning of love
Grass on a stone
Mothers living on a flute’s sigh
and,
The invaders’ fear of memories

We have on this earth what makes life worth living:
The final days of September
A woman leaving forty in full blossom
The hour of sunlight in prison
A cloud reflecting a swarm of creatures
The peoples’ applause for those who face death with a smile
And,
The tyrants’ fear of songs.

We have on this earth what makes life worth living:
On this earth, the lady of earth,
Mother of all beginnings
Mother of all ends.
She was called...Palestine.
Her name later became...Palestine.

My Lady, because you are my Lady, I deserve life. 

Below is a rendition by Shadia Mansour, Palestinian singer and hip hop artist, who sings the poem. Darwish's recital of the poem is woven into it. Her voice is amazing and give me chills.

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