Almond Blossoms and Beyond

97 Pages·2009·0.49 MB·English

by  Mahmoud Darwish

almondb lossoms
andb eyond
mahmoud darwish
translMaoharmemda d byS haheen
-------'
almondb lossoms
and beyond
mahmoudd arwish
transblyaM toehda mmaSdh aheen
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InteBroloiknsk
Ani mprionftI nterPluibnlki sGhrionuIgpn ,c .
NorthampMtaosns,a chusetts
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Copyri©g hMta hmouDda rwisAhc/t eSsu d2,0 09
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Originpaulbllyi sihnAe rda bbiycR iaEdl -RayyBeesi,rL uetb,a non
Alrli ghrtess ervNeod p.a rotft hibso omka yb er eproduscteodr,ie nad r etriseyvsatloe rm
transmiitnat endyf, o romr b ya nym eansel,e ctronic, electrtoasptmeae,tc ihca,n imcaagln,e tic
photocopryeicnogr,d oiron tgh erwwiisteh,o tuhtpe r ipoerr missiinwo rni tionftg h peu blisher.
LibraorfCy o ngreCsast aloging-in-PDuabtlai cation
DarwisMha,h rnud.
[Ka-zaalh-rl aawwaz b 'aEdn.g lish]
Almonbdl ossoamnsdb eyonIdb yM ahmouDda rwi;st hranslbaytM eodh ammaSdh aheen.
-1sted.
p.e rn.
ISBN9 78-1-56656-755-8 (hardback)
I.Sh ahiMnu,h ammad.T iItIl.e .
PJ7820.A72K030193
892.176'- dc22
2008055674
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InterlPiunbkl ishing
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Acknowlveid gments
Introvdiuic tion
I:Y OU
ThinokfO ther3s
Now,i nE xil4e
WhenY ouG azLeo ng
IfY ouW alko na S tre6e t
A Cafea,n dY ouw itthh Nee wspaper 7
IIH:E
Hea ndN oneO ther1 1
HeW aitefdoN ro O ne 12
Orange-L1i4k e
A Weddinogv er Th1e5r e
Wide Spa1c6e
IIII :
ThesAer et hWeo rds1 9
To DescriabnAe l monBdl osso2m0
IS iattH ome 21
IL ovAeu tumann dt he ShoafMd eea nin2g3s
Asf oSrp rin2g4
IU setdo L oveW inte2r5
Asi fIW ereJ oyfu2l6
Happ(yI K nowN otW hy)2 7
ID oN otK nowt hSet rang2e8r
IV:S HE
BeautiWfoumeln A reB eautiWfoumlen 31
LikaeS malCla feT,h atL'osv e3 2
A HandT hat Scatters Wakefulness 33
IW ishIW ereY ounge3r4
ID oN otS leetpoD ream3 5
SheF orgaoC tl ouidnt hBee d3 6
She/He3 7
SheD oeNso tL ovYeo u 39
SheH asN otC ome 41
WhenY ouA reW itMhe 43
Now,A fteYro u 44
V:EXILEI
TuesdaByr,i agD haty 49
VI:E XILE2
Witht hFeo gS oD ensoen t hBer idg6e1
VIIE:X ILE3
LikaeH andT attionoa nO deb ya nA ncieAnrta Pbo et7 3
VIIEI:XI LE4
Counterp(oFioEnrdt w arWd. S aid8)7
Acknowledgments
Iha vree ceedii nvvaldueatbalcieol memde fnrtosMm o hammad
Asfowuhrho,a r se aandcd r itdircaiofzftte hsdet srea nslaantdi ons,
toA mrNoa ddwyh,ow orkoened a rlvieerrso ifos nosmo eft his
mateIrp iaarlt.i tchualhnaikrfm lo syro moeft hlea ysouugtg ehset ions
kindplryo viFdoehrde g.rr acainoedux sp ert aenfddoi hrte irn g
patitehnrcoeu tghhpeor uotjP eacmteT,lh ao mpdseosne srpveecsi al
thanks.
Ia mi ndetboDt iendSa a lmaannAd l Yaa'g hgir,a dsutautdee nts
whoh avaes siwsittpehrd o ofraenamdda idmneeg t icruelmoaursk s.
Na bMialt (aacr o mrfaodorev efro duerc aodfte hsUe)n iversity
ofM innehsaobste aea,nl wsauypsp oarntIdiw voeul,li dtk oee x press
myd eeapp precfiohariet sni tohnu asnicdao smmm ittmoDe anrtw ish's
poetry.
Iw isthot haHnakn iKnh irfaa lne,c tiunrt ehEren glish
departamnFedan itr,Bo auhzla sa eqc,r oeftt ahDreey p artwmheon t,
abtlyyp tehmdea tearnihdae ll mpeei dnt hmea nuspcrreippatr ation.
Introduction
MahmoDuardw ish
1M3a r1c9h4 1-9August
2008
M ahmoSuadl Deamr wwiasbsho rinan l -Biarv wialhil,tna h gee
cidtiys torfWi ecstt Gearlni ilnPe ael,e sttoai f naer,m ing
famiHlifysa. t whaeasrm oderwaetlellf-yao rfmhfei mrso; t hwehro,
counledi trheeanrdow rr iwtaets,h d ea ugohftt ehre heoaftd hmea n
vilolfaa gle- DaMmauhnm.o wuadts h see coonfed i gchhti lfdirveen ,
sonasn,td h rdeaeu ghAtfettrehsrZe. i onoicsctuspd ieemdo,l ished,
and.darwoatvyhei e n haboifat la-nBtiisrn 1w 9a4th8hf ,ea mflieltdyo
Lebanon.
One summeIwr a ssnu idgdhweton,kl feyrn o sml ebeymp y
mothIfe oru;mn yds weilhtfuh ndorfeo tdhsve irl lraugnenrisn g
intthowe o odMsa.c hinreo-ugnwudensrs et reaomvieonrug r
heaIdc so.un lodut n derwshtawatang sdo ionngA. f taen ri ght
ofa imlreusnsn inogno efmw yi trhe laIct aimtveaoes st r.a.n.g e
vilwlhaegtrehe ew reero et hcehri lIdnmr yei nn.n ocIae snkceed ,
"WhearmIe "? a nhde afrotdrh f ei tristmthe we o r"dL ebanon."
Aftleirvt ihlnegio ffaer efufgomeroe rt eh aayn e aIwr a,ts o ld
onnei gthhtIaw to ubled rethuormnneei dxnatgWy e.s eotu t
ont hree tjuorunr. Tn heeywreert eh roefue sm :y semlyuf n,c le,
antdh geu iAdfet.ae ner x haujsotuirInfng oe uymn yds ienal f
villbautgtome y,g redaits appowienh tacmdoe mntetot , h e
vilolfDa agiearl -Ansoattdom , yv illage.
WheInc ambea cfkr oLme baInw oanis,tn h see cond class.
Theh eadmawsaatsne e rx cemlalneW.nh te ann E ducation
Inspveicsttiohtrsee c dh otohhlee, a dmastceamrle tl who o iusl d
offainchdei mdeei nan arrroowof mo,tr ha eu thowroiutlide s
regmaera dsa ni nterloper.
Whenetvhpeeor l ciacmteeot hvei llIwa oguebl,ehd i dden
ina c upbooarir nsd o mceo rnoerar n otbheecra Iuw saes
forbitdold ievne itnmh yhe ormee, lTahnedpy.r otemcet ed
froimn forbmyse arysti hnIagw t a isnL ebanTohnet.ya ught
met os atyh Ial ti vweidot nhoe ft hBee douiintn h tNero irbtehs.
Thaitws h aIdt i tdoo btnta hie Iisdreancetaliritd y.
MahmoDuadr wciosmhp lheietsde udc aitni odnic fifriccuuml­t
stanocbetsa,ia nG ienngeS reaclo nCdearrtyi Hfiecl aitvieent.d h e
vilolfaa gle- Djtaowy hdiehchih fs a mhialmdyo vesde,t ttlhieinrnge
196M0a.h momuodv teodH aiwfhae hrebe e gaan ne swt aighnei l si fe.
Facweidtr ha ciaanladir srmo gaannfdcl ea,gi rnafnrti nogfbe amseinct
human hrebi egchatpmsoe,l i taicctailvlety,h Iejs orCiaonemilmniug n ist
parHteym .a dael ivbiywn rgi tfiotnrhgA e r abic npeuwbslpiaspheerd
thearnesd,u bseqwuoernkotenltd yh n ee wspAalp-eaIrdta t ntdih he
magaAziljn-aed( ibdoo trhg oafnt shI es raeli Communist Party).
Hef requseunftflaeyrr reaednsi dtm prisonmien1n 9t6i,1n , f irst
Haiafnatd,h einn1 96w5h,eh new aism prisaoj naeiidnRl a imnl a,
becahuehs aets r avferloHemad i tfoJa e rus(attloae pkmae ir nta n
evenoifpn oge torryg,a nbiyAz reasdbt udoefHn etbsr Uenwi versity
inJ eruswailtehmao)p u etr mfirtot mhI es raauetlhio Hreiwt aise s.
jaialt ehdit ridmi en1 96c7h,a rwgietedhn gaigni" nagc tihvoisttiielse
toI sraOentl h.ne"i gohftt h Ies raageglrie asgsaiinonensi tg hboring
Aracbo unitJnru ine1es9 6h7ew, a ism priisanol Dna- emdu jna Tihle.
fiofctcha wsaiison1 n 9 w6h9e hnew adse taoinncaeegd a iinRn a mla.
Att hbee ginonf1i 9n7hg0e w, e nttoM osctoosw t utdhya,tn ok s
thIes rCaoemlmiu PnairsHttey s .t afyoeordv eayr e aarnt,dh ewne nt
toC aiirnFo e bru1a91rh7 ya vidnegc indotetodg ob actkoI srIane l.
ap ublic shtesa ati"edTm,hie emn pto,rs ttatenhpIta h ta ve sttaekmesn
frocmo nsideorfsa etrivtoiotnc hcseea utshee:ar rpeel awcheesri et ,
seetmoms e , timhsoe rrfeer eeadnomdmo rlei baenrwdth yi ch may
allmoegw r eastceotrpoe e x prmeysssae nltdfow ortkh aIcn o uflidn d
inm yo wnc ounIta rmay d.v anfcrioanmp g l aocfre e straincdt ion
impristooanp mleaoncfwte o r'kT.hh eao ifMr u ' awcioynanhe'c ting
met oI srlaaehwla bise ebnr okmeyan b;i tloti otlye troba ept aet,i ent,
inso we xhauesstpeedcs,ii anlncloely o In gert oabp eelootpnhlgae t
asfkosmr e rctyhb,ae tgf soa rl mbsut,toa p eotphlfaeit tg sh."
Ine xihleeb ,e caemdei tor-oiftn h-meca hgiaezfSi hnue 'un
Fialsityyianh( PalesAtfifnaiiparunsb )l,ib syht ehCdee ntfeorr
PalesRteisneiaaanrnSdc t hu dbiaesisenB d e iArfuttae.w r h ihlele e ft
thmea gazainniden 1, 9 8h7ew aesl ecttobe ead m emboefrt he
execuctoimvmei otftt hePeeL ,Oa nwda msa dceh airomfta hne
SuprCeomuen fcoCirul l tEudruec,aa tnHideo rni Htear gees.i gned on
Apr2i,11l 9 9f3o,l lotwhsiein ggno iftn hOges lAoc cord tbheet ween
PLOa nIds raanemdlo ,v ebde twaen eunm boefAr r aabnn do n-Arab
capiftianlsasel,tl tyil nBi enigrw uhtih,ce hl eofntla yf ttehIres raeli
miliitnacruyir ns1 i9o9Sn2u .b seqhuele intvilenTyd u, na insCd y prus.
Het ootkhp eo osfet d itor-oiftn hm-eac ghaizAeilfKn- amere alnw da s
lonrge siidnPe anrtwi hsi,gc ahvh eit mh oep porttuoen xiptltyoh ree
varicouulstf urroaemrs o utnhwdeo rtlhdca ot- etxhieIsrnt1e 9.8h 4e,
waesl ecptreeds iodfte hnUetn ioonft hPea leswtriintiaeanrnds
journaanlrdie s-tesl,ie n1c 9t8He7del. i vaefdt erpwaarritdntl hye
JordacnaipaiAntm amlaa,nn ,pd a ritnRl aym alilnta hWhee, s t Bank.
Darwish'hsa bspe oeetntr rayn silnatEtone gdl ish, French,
RussSiwaend,i sh,S pGaenrDimusathncB,,hu ,l gaHruinagna,r ian,
PoliIstha,lP iearnsa,in aHdne ,b rHeewh .ab se ehno nowriettdhh e
LotPursi bzyte h Uen ioofnA fro-WArsiitaenr IsbS,ni nPtarh iez e,
thLee nPiena Pcrei tzhMeee, d itertrhSaehn ieoeaftln hd,Pe a lestinian
RevolutthSiepo ann,Li isbhr Farrayn,Kc nei'goshf At r tasnB de lles
Lettmreedtsah lOe,f fiMceedraas lp,e pcriiafzlre ot mhI en ternational
CavaCfoym mitthtLeea en,nP arnif zoCeru ltFurreaeldt ohDmeu, t ch
Princet hKSelu alButisaAn,nl A iI' UwaCiusl tFuoruanld partiizoen,
antdh Aer aPbo ePtrriyoz fte hS eu prCeomuen ocfCi ull t(uaCrier o)
estabblyiN sahgeuMidab h fouz.
MahmoDuadr wish raeu pnrieqpsuoeeen cttaissic en t hfei eolfd
Arapboiect breyg,i nwniittnhhrge i osfe modietnrh nseie scmoh nadl f
oft hlea csetn tuuprt yot, h per esdeanyTt.h rouhgiahsb undant
creathiehv aibste yea,nb tlore e atlwitozh ei nhgews r:og teen uinely
popuploaerta ratty i,mw eh eAnr abpiocea tnridytr se adership were
botihnd eclhiepn ree;s etrhsvepe idar nivdta loufep so e,tw rhyile
renewainrndeg fi ntihnegam sn, oo thwerri wtaeasrb tlodeo I.ht a s,
perhbaepehsni,c s o ntropvoeprusliaaralin ozdra itgiiotnnhah alativ tey
madhei "mt Phoee otn,ne"o ttob ec onfwuistaehndo y t her.
Att hvee ry beogfhi inpsno ienctgai rce Dearr,w wiastsho rn
betwtewedoni stinct Ppahleensortmeiesnniiasa:vtn ea rniscnee
oppostiott hIieos nro acecluip aantAdir oanmb oidce rvneirwsshtei ,c h
wasst eixlpll ocrhiannaggn edd e veloipnim tfesun ltl Wrhainlgee .
Darwainshdhi p so ewtesri enq uest fori nAm roadbpeiorecnt irtyy,
heq uicbkelcyab myte h,me i d1-96t0hsPe,a lesRteisniisatna nce Poet
paerx celslternitcvoeci ,rn egaa" tnea tpiooenmaw,lh" ia ltteh s ea me
timper esetrhvdeie nehgpu ,m aens seonfpc oee twrhyit,cr ha nscends
contaenixdist tn u wniet ahsW, o rdswcoarlitlt"he,t ds h tesi almdlu ,s ic
ofh umanIiwtta yps.o "s stihbsiltsyr iwvhiingcgah,vh eip so etar y
specdiyanla mtihlcae,thd i tmoe xperwiimtaenh ne ttw y poefl ove
poetmh gaote s bbeoyttohhsn eod or flto pvoee tmh Naitz Qaarb bani
madpeo pualnatdrh o el Adr abliocvp eo eBmy.i denttihfleyo isntg
lanodfP alewsitthihinb see loDvaerdw,fi rsehte htder aditional love
poefmr oimtn sa rroawsesro ciwaittlihoo vnaesnrb d e loavnedd ,
imbuiewtdi utnhi vheurmsavanal l dueersi,f vriolnmog ov fte h lead n,
thmee anoifnl go vaesi s th oublead,n fdr otmha en guoifes xhi le,
humaenx iilnie te sx istseingtniiafTlih cuDasan rcwewi.is olhsl c illate
ianp oewmh iacfithr asptp etabore ms e rpeollyi atgiictabalet tiwoen,e n
thnea tiaonntdah hleu mabne,ia nwga arhse ew afsr,o vme reya rolny,
thatm etahneoi fpn oge ltirieynts h ceo ntempolfwa htaiiteso t ne rnal
anudn ivelrosvdaeel,a:a t nhtd,h b eo undmlyesstosefe r xyi stence.
Inh ifsi prhsatDs aer,w aipsphe taobr easr omaonratv iics ionary
poeotn,we h os etehsbe e ginanniednn gdossft hincgosm,b iinni ng
himsaenal sfs uhmuemda n paonsodin tteih oianfst u olfdl a rkness.
Eveintn h pihsa se,f awvhooirbceshdc uhreci rteyaa,rt oemda snttyilce
ofp oeatlrhlyio sw no,nt eh daetl igahlttlhs i aningondsp elnasn guage
upt on eswu bjreacttahsise,t fr h sitsr arnogmea pnotweiatccs l inging
toh ihsi ghseearln fbd e ienxga lbtyie tTd.h tee nsbieotnw een the
poetthrrayet l taoat leelsx isatnetdnh cpeeo etthrsayet ie tss aesol nfe
ofi tass peacnat sst,o nilsihnignuegix sptliocs ion-tihasi s tension
featoufDr aer wipsohe'tAsrl tylh. ii nst ,ha eb seonfac necy l atihma t
poetirsay na ctiovfli atnyg uaantgdeh paote tic language breaks
throaungtdhr ansrceeanldist y.
Ifs ucmho derpnoiesattsQs a bbaannadil -Sadyryaawb the
inspifroatrth iepoionre ftrroym mo desrunb joerfc rtoslm,a nguage
itself,t heaevv eoriaydnditdanh yige m mediately tangible, Mahmoud
Darwcirseha htilesas n gufargoaemb rocaodn tempolfla itfieo,n
whigcihv heisps o etasr pya cviiovuisd annefdsr soa,mc onstant
dialwoigtu"het phree striegaidoweuhrsoh" a esx pectoaftt hieo ns
poaentwd h otmh peo ientv tioct oemswe i htihim n tthoee n lightening
ofp oetarsiys t,h oubleId.nt hwiasyt ,hr ee aodcecru app ileaoscf e
priviitnl hecego en tinoufaap toiebomyDn a rwniosithtn ,h sei mple
programsmeantbsiuecit, n t haotft h"ep oetic tqhuaets tion"
anticainap eastteahsne stwiTechra e.n swleiirenl si ngaueisstthiect ics
thacto mbsiunref saicmep laincadim tayz iinntge nwsiitthy ,t he
questoifbo ontrshe aadnepdro eTth.i s pramo udlutcielsta eyxetr ed
thbaetl oanttgh ssea mtei mteot hree aadnetdrog repaote tTrhyu.s ,
Darwitsehax'ptsp eaasarf sa bmraidcue po fm etapahndodyr n amic
symbolciosmmbi,wn ietvdhe rtsheaa ptp roxpirmoaostrepe ,rs o se
thaaptp roxviemranstoeiet,tns h tee chsneinctsahelo, u bguihtnt, h e
senosfae n u ncondisteiaofrncotahrhl me e anainnidgd enotfi ty
poe.t ry
Darwbiesghba ywn r itpionegam bso Puatl esatniadnf,et l,eo rn g
exploroafot bisocnuhsra aisrt ryi,ava the udm apno eetnitce ripnr ise,
whihcehc ontemtphlseae tveaesnn c iMeu'n atq lalatan,wd r ites
alj-iadriylao,o ktiotn hpgeo ehteirci otfma agnek aisanw dh oTlheu.s ,
hicso lleWcartAdiq o(anFl e wReorst eesn)td oewda "rpdr ivveartsee "
antdh tiesn dbeenccaymm oerp er onouintnc hceiodsl leKcatziaohn,r
ala-wlazwa 'ba (dAm lonBdol ssaonmBdse nyod)A.t t hsea mtei me,
thecsoel lelcittkihecoe on lsl,e Acnttihioulmnraa uu r e(Ie"S deW eh at
IW atn)"a rPea lesptoienmwisha,ine c xht iennhtdio cs o lleHcalttai on
Hias(rA" StoafSt iee gweh"e)tr,hem e a invs i siintbh lPeea lestinian,
whetrhePe a lestaisan ihaunm,a n sshuabtrjheeeesxc pte,r ience of
loavnegd r ioefff u,t euxrpee ctaantodift o hinens e,v ifteaoabftrl h ee
impenmdoimnegon fat n nihiwliattthhri eeo osnfmt, a nkind.
Critdiecssc Drairbweai ss"h m ultifaap roiewothu ois si, n"
converwsiatbthoi tcohln a sasnimdco adleA rrna bic wphoohe atsr y,
meditoantt hesedu bjoeflc itifsnme a npyo eftoircam nswd,i tghr eat
spontaTnheedi itvye.rt sobi eft oyu inndh ipso emissn otto b e
separfartoaemm d u lticpuoletetunirtcae lr tphreaimtsb er atchees
AraIbs,l aEmuirco,p Jeeawni,as nhdG, r eecku ltiunar f ee rtile
multitphleaixtcp irtleyso asvneetds o leraanwndhc ierc,eh v eiatnlh se
poem stuhbes toafamn acne, whiiitsnh h eacrlrelen atpt oisvsei bility.
-MohamSmhaadh een