Psalm 15

Psalm 15

Mahmoud Darwish Translated by: Denys Johnson-Davies/The Music of Human Flesh. A fugitive from the frontiers that preyed upon my friends And the frontiers race behind me. The frontiers come nearer and nearer And touch my throat. It is difficult for you to know Where the legend ends And where my face begins Because the frontiers are so near. These furrows carved into my forehead Are not the fingerprints of years. These blue lines under my eyes Are not evidence of nights with women – They are the frontiers that ramify throughout my body. I am condemned to defeat And my enemy is condemned to victory. I am steadfast in defeat And my enemy is steadfast in victory. O darkness coming upon the city, Pour down, pour down, For tonight I am resolved to depart from my frontier-ridden face Into the direction of my heart, The only city that has not fallen into captivity. Zajel / An-Najah National University