A forehead and an anger

A forehead and an anger

Mahmud Darwish My homeland! O eagle that sheathes its beak of flame In my eyes Through the wooden bars. All that I possess in the presence of death Is a forehead and an anger. I have requested in my will that my heart be planted as a tree And my forehead as a house for the skylark. O Eagle of whose wing I am not worthy I prefer the crown of flame. My homeland! We were born and we have grown in your wounds  And have eaten acorns That we may witness the flutter of your wing O Eagle that heavily lingers in fetters for no reason O legendary death that used to be loved Your red beak is still in my eyes as a sword of flame. I am not worthy of your wing All that I possess in the presence of death Is a forehead and an anger. (Akhir al-layl Nahar,Damascus 1968.)