Palestinian Darwish says "My poetry is linked to peace"
2005-09-05
Born in 1941 in Birwa, near Saint-Jean-d'Acre, Mahmoud Darwish is regarded as one of the greatest contemporary Arab poets, attracting fans from Damascus to Casablanca. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has described him as "my favorite poet."
(Humanite.fr, Testament d'un Poete 11/23/2003, "Murale" 2003, "State of siege" 2002)
 [AFP] Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish at a UNESCO poetry recital |
Mahmoud Darwish was only six-years-old when his family was forced to leave Birwa, the village where he was born. In 1950, he returned to his homeland to find that Birwa had been replaced by two Israeli settlements. While the path of the poet is identical to the one of his Palestinian people, Darwish says, "A poet must not provide his audience with a political agenda."
Some analysts say Darwish's works do not reflect any sort of ideology but are rather fragments, simple clichés of a specific moment, a given scene, or a fugitive thought. His "epic lyrics" are said to be free from all insinuation.
"Some day I will be a poet … as I say nor indicate anything".
"Some day I will be a poet … as I say nor indicate anything". "Some day I will be a poet … as I say nor indicate anything".
In Ramallah where he now lives, the "poet in exile" notes daily in very short poems his feelings and impressions about the reality of a people not unlike from his own. A "state of siege" as he calls it, where "… facing the sunset and the weaponry of time, [he] … cultivates hope."
Darwish draws his positivist approach from his idol Rainer Maria Rilke. "Celebrate instant beauties in order to respond to barbarism [of conflicts]", as Rile used to say. Look beyond "Murale", beyond whispers and crying. Darwish wants his readers to seize the intense pleasure of ordinary things, fragrances, colours, sweetness, density of an eternal present, so as to tell the thick and fragile mystery of an ever unique destiny.
The role of the poet, stresses Darwish, is to tell, remind what risks to be forsaken. For him "The poet is one with his people … [to] talk about men that history … might forget."
In his collections, Darwish wishes self-denial, refuses egocentrism. "Here, no me" he claims when talking about the "state of siege" that Palestine experiences. No place exists for individualism in a place of cultural and religious plurality.
For Darwish, Palestine and co-existence are synonymous.
"Am I not myself the child of many cultures?", he says repeatedly. There is in himself a place for Jewish, Greek, Christian, and Muslim voices. According to Darwish, it is not hard to do. It suffices to give every man the right to define his identity as he wants to. When conception of identity is not automatically linked to denying the identity of the other in people's minds, the very problematic can be easily solved.
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ايمان Posted 2006-11-28
This writer is wonderful, and we should all get to know him.
محمد جمال Posted 2007-02-18
Keep it up at this level!
ديما Posted 2007-07-08
I'm Palestianian, I love poetry and the great poet Mahmoud Darwich is wonderful, I live in Gaza and hope to go to the Bank as I wish to meet our great poet so that he reads my poetry.
شيرين Posted 2007-10-09
The Palestinian poet Mohamed Darwish is one of the most prominent poets in the world. I love all his writings namely "Memory of forgetfulness" and "Don't apologize, as you do". We're proud that he is a pure Palestinian.
منال Posted 2007-10-27
Manal I'm Algerian and I prefer the poet Mohamed Darwish.
انوار Posted 2007-10-29
The best poet.
بنت فلسطين Posted 2007-11-06
This poet is great, I thank him for his poems.
بنت فلسطين Posted 2007-11-06
In the name of God. The Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish is one of the most important poets in the whole world. I love all his writings, especially 'A memory for forgetfulness' and 'Don't apologize as you did'. We're proud that he's a true Palestinian. One of his best poems is 'Olives'.
soumia Posted 2007-11-07
Salam alaikoum, I like your site so much, as I and all my colleagues learnt much information from it. Thanks again.
إبنة هتلر الغير شرعية . Posted 2007-11-15
In the siege of blood and sun, waiting is a losing language. And Moses won't come to the promised land. Isn't that true? Words to Mahmoud Darwish, maybe the only man on earth who deserves life.
ليليان Posted 2007-11-24
In my opinion as a Palestinian living in Palestine, the poet Mahmoud Darwich is really a great poet, I'm always proud of him as he's Palestinian.
محسين Posted 2007-12-19
Mahmoud Darwish is one of the best writers in the world in his vision of his country, he’s also a daring writer.
Anonymous Posted 2008-01-24
Liana: The poet Mohamed Darwish is one of the best poets, thanks to him for everything he wrote. I'm from Palestine and I'm prod of you our great poet.
خالد مسعود Posted 2008-02-18
Congratulations, very nice poetry.
ملك فلسطين Posted 2008-03-03
The poet Mahmoud Darwish expresses the suffering of the Algerian people. Maybe he doesn’t speak poetry but with his words he enters the heart. The best evidence is the declaration of the leader of enemies (Sharon) I envy the Palestinian people for their poet Mahmoud Darwish.
محمد Posted 2008-03-04
Nice.
رينا Posted 2008-03-05
I love the peot Mohamed Darwish so much.
Anonymous Posted 2008-04-04
Long live Palestine. Palestine will persist. I thank the poet Mohamed Darwich for the poetry for Palestine and in the sake of Palestine.
بن شرقي Posted 2008-06-17
I am very proud of the poet Mahmoud Darwish. If I were thirsty in the Sahara and our poet Mahmoud Darwish were water, I would rather die than drink him. You are the symbol of Arabism our poet. You are all poetry. My dream is to become like him. Blessed be Mahmoud Darwish, he is the infinite ink which always flows from the pen. Ben Charki.
فتى الجزائر Posted 2008-06-26
I respect the poet.
بانا Posted 2008-08-11
I respect the poet Mahmoud Darwish. I love his poems. But I haven't thought of reading all his books. Like life, when creativity dies, it is spread out among nations. Now we will hear of the name of Mahmoud Darwish by all tongues. His poems will be spread more than before.
رحمة Posted 2008-08-24
The proverb says “Even if the eyes don’t see you, the heart won’t forget you”. My tongue cannot say your name casually without saying the poet Mahmoud Darwish. If I just say Mahmoud Darwish without title, I don’t give you your right. May God rest your soul. You are the lover from Palestine. Mercy upon the souls of Muslims. May the Creator of the Universe welcome you and all Muslims in Paradise.
نموت على الجزائر Posted 2008-09-11
Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you. May God rest the soul of the poet of the Palestinian resistance Mahmoud Darwish and receive him in His wide paradise. By God, it is not Palestine alone which is proud of him, but all Arabs. As an Algerian woman, I love his poetry especially his poem “My mother”. God willing dear Palestine will be liberated and we will all meet there for a prayer, oh Lord.
Eng. Hasan Al-Bahkali Posted 2008-09-12
May God rest the souls of the dead Muslims. The poet of the Palestinian resistance Darwish is now between the hands of God. He was a member of the communist party. (It is known that communism doesn’t recognize God and it has no religion. Then he was a member of the Israeli Knesset then America). We have some reservations about the excesses of the poet as regards God and Islam. We hope that he had changed his attitudes and poetry in offending Islam and Muslims. He thinks that every person has his own God which he doesn’t share with anyone. He has poems which we disclaim including I defy you death (he defies God) and others. We ask God the Almighty that he had returned to reason, God knows. It is noted that the celebration isn’t justified as if progress and catching up with other nations will be achieved only by offending God, Islam and its symbols. The objective of those people is to gain fame, gain and getting the Nobel as if it were the instrument of forgiveness. Unfortunately, even our men of literature and authors have ridden this wave. If only my people understand. We ask God to rest the souls of dead Muslims. Engineer Hasan Al Bahkali.
souso Posted 2008-10-13
You are the idlest poet in the world.
salma Posted 2008-10-13
I love the great poet Mohamed Darwish. My father, mother and all my family likes him. I hope that he will remain eternal.
mohaned Posted 2008-10-13
You are beautiful.
عنود Posted 16 days ago
By God I was sorry for his death especially because he is Palestinian. May God rest his soul. Everyone should pray for his mercy. Bye. Your sister El Anoud.
omaima banouj Posted 8 days ago
The Arab Maghreb is a big regional agglomeration. It should co-operate with each other.
ميكانيكي نات Posted 4 days ago
The poet Mahmoud Darwish is a great poet. I love you so much because your poems are very nice especially “Identity Card” was wonderful.
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