Promises of the Storm

Curator's note: This poster was published in several versions one of which may be viewed here

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Arabic translation:

..because the storm promised me wine and new toasts

I have been serenading happiness

Mahmoud Darwish

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Promises of the Storm

So be it


I can assure you that I will refuse death

And burn the tears of the bleeding songs


And strip the olive trees


Of all their counterfeit branches

If I have been serenading happiness

Somewhere beyond the eyelids of frightened eyes

That is because the storm

Promised me wine and new toasts


And rainbows


Because the storm

Swept away the voices of idiotic, obedient birds


And swept away the counterfeit branches


From the trunks of standing trees

So be it
 I must be proud of you


Oh wounded city

You are lightning in our sad night


When the street frowns at me


You protect me from the shadows


And the looks of hatred

I will go on serenading happiness


Somewhere beyond the eyelids of frightened eyes

For from the time the storm began to rage in my country


It has promised me wine and rainbows

by: Mahmoud Darwish