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