Monday, 27 January 2025

From A River Dies of Thirst by Mahmoud Darwish

If only the young were trees.


The tree is sister to the tree, or its good neighbour. 

The big one is kind to the little one, giving it the shade it needs. 

The tall one is kind to the short one, sending it a bird to keep it company at night. 

No tree attacks the fruit of another tree, and if one tree is barren the other does not make fun of it.

 A tree does not attack another tree and does not imitate a woodcutter. 

When a tree becomes a boat, it learns to swim. 

When it becomes a door, it continues to keep secrets. 

When it becomes a chair, it does not forget the sky that was once above it. 

When it becomes a table, it teaches the poet not to be a woodcutter. 

The tree is forgiveness and vigilance. 

It neither sleeps nor dreams, but is entrusted with the secrets of dreamers, 

standing guard night and day, showing respect to passers-by and to the heavens. 

The tree is a standing prayer, directing its devotions upwards. 

When it bends a little in the storm, it bends majestically, like a nun, looking upwards all the time. 

In the past the poet said: 'If only the young were stones.' He should have said: 'If only the young were trees!

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