Psalm 6

Psalm 6

Mahmoud Darwish Translated by: Denys Johnson-Davies/The Music of Human Flesh. The trees of my country make a practice of greenness, While I practice memory. The lost  voice in the wilderness Turns away towards the sky, and kneels: O clouds! Are you returning? I am not so sad, And yet those who do not know trees Do not love birds. And he knows no surprises Who makes a habit of lying. I am not so sad, And yet he knows not lying Who has not known fear. I am not so shrunk And yet it is the trees that are tall. Ladies and gentlemen, I love birds And know trees. I know surprises Because I have not known lying. I am bright as truth and the dagger And thus I ask you: Fire at the birds That I may describe the trees. Stop the Nile That I may describe Cairo. Stop Tigris of Euphrates or both That I may describe Baghdad. Stop Barada That I may describe Damascus. And stop me from talking That I may describe myself.  Zajel / An-Najah National University