Teach me how to live again—
How a flower insists on blooming
in soil long abandoned to barrenness,
how the sins of a distant past
might dare to be forgiven.
Teach me—
before the blade of my executioner breaks loose,
before I am torn away
from this moment
and the next,
before the sun plunges into the valley.
Tell me—
how do you cast aside my grief,
and the grief of my people?
How do you dare
to press a worthless price upon my soul?
For death in my homeland
is unlike death at any other land—
in my homeland,
death is given freely.
Come—
let me show you
how life dies within us.
My city, sir—
its earth is a coffin.
It has turned into exile,
clothed in tents.
In my city,
handkerchiefs flutter in farewell
as warmth slips away,
and the migration of blood
runs a river through the ruins.
Its children
are offered as sacrifice,
and the road of return
is buried beneath walls.
In my city, sir,
the living walk as the dead.
When the truth was laid bare
across their wounded body,
and the curtain of the play fell—
they cursed
the vileness of the scene,
and they withdrew.
They withdrew—
and left you the chair.
withdrew—
and left you life.
withdrew—
and left you the sins.
withdrew—
and left you and your brother
the transgressions.
They withdrew—
they washed themselves
in the blood of the martyrs,
and declared their repentance
from this world…
and withdrew.
They renounced every party,
no longer seduced
by the hypocrisy of hearts—
so they withdrew.
For the age of forgiveness
is over.
The age of forgiveness
is over.
Note: This project is supported by the British Council as part of the SARD programme, which focuses on the role of English and other languages in building resilience. SARD – Stories of Adversity, Resilience and Determination – encourages Palestinians, particularly young people, to share their stories and lived experiences through creative and educational media. The content of this production is solely the responsibility of Resilient Voices and does not necessarily reflect the views of the supporting or partnering institutions.
