Fedaa Alsoufi

“أعدّي
من زهور اللوز والرمّان
يا أُمي .. قلادة

وارتقي لي معطفي البالي
ارتقي قلبي، يا أُمي
وأشلاءَ بلادي ..”
― سميح القاسم, الأعمال الشعرية الكاملة

“Life to the last drop
If someone said to me again: ‘Supposing you were to die tomorrow, what would you do?’ I wouldn’t need any time to reply. If I felt drowsy, I would sleep. If I was thirsty, I would drink. If I was writing, I might like what I was writing and ignore the question. If I was having lunch, I would add a little mustard and pepper to the slice of grilled meat. If I was shaving, I might cut my earlobe. If I was kissing my girlfriend, I would devour her lips as if they were figs. If I was reading, I would skip a few pages. If I was peeling an onion, I would shed a few tears. If I was walking, I would continue walking at a slower pace. If I existed, as I do now, then I wouldn’t think about not existing. If I didn’t exist, then the question wouldn’t bother me. If I was listening to Mozart, I would already be close to the realms of the angels. If I was asleep, I would carry on sleeping and dream blissfully of gardenias. If I was laughing, I would cut my laughter by half out of respect for the information. What else could I do, even if I was braver than an idiot and stronger than Hercules?”
― Mahmoud Darwish, A River Dies of Thirst: Journals

“اكتب عن شحذ الهمة
اكتب عن أحلام الأمة
طوبي للحرف الشامخ في الليل منارة
والعار لأبراج العاج المنهارة”
― سميح القاسم, ديوان سميح القاسم

“Fame is the enemy of instinct and spontaneity, the difference between what is said and what ought to be said, and the transformation of one person into two”
― Mahmoud Darwish, A River Dies of Thirst: Journals