818 | I TALK CEASELESSLY

Painting by Biagio Fortini, Italy

I talk ceaselessly

I talk ceaselessly about the subtle difference

between women and trees, about
the magic of the earth, about a country whose

stamp I have never seen in any passport.

I ask: ladies and gentlemen,
is the earth of humans for all humans,
as you claim? Where then is my little hut

and where am I? The assembly applauds.

Three extra minutes, three minutes of freedom
and recognition… the assembly has approved
our return, just as all chickens and
all horses return to a dream of stone.

I shake their hands, one by one, bow deeply …

and continue my journey to another

country where I speak about the difference
between a bubble and the rain and ask:
dear ladies and gentlemen,
is the earth of humans for all humans?

Mahmoud Darwish, Palestine, 1941-2008

Translation: Benaissa Bouhmala-Germain Droogenbroodt

from “Less roses”, POINT Editions & Boekenplan 2009

Painting by Biagio Fortini, Italy