As a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates a poem by the legendary Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. 

Think of others

When you prepare your breakfast, think of others,

                                     Don’t forget the food of pigeons

When you wage your wars, think of others,

                                     Don’t forget those who want peace

When you pay your water bill, think of others,

                                     Those who suckle the clouds

 When you return home, to your home, think of others,

                                    Don’t forget the people of (refugee) camps

When you sleep and count the planets, think of others,

                                   Some have not found the space for sleep

When you liberate yourself with metaphors, think of others,

                                  Those who lost their right to speak

When you think of the distant others, think of yourself,

                                 Say: I wish I’m a candle in the dark

— Tranlsated from Arabic by Ali Harb