Darwish

The poem, “Her/ Him,” is from Darwish’s last published book during his lifetime, in 2005, titled “Like Almond Blossom, or Further.” The last book by Darwish was actually published after his death, in 2008. It was called, “I Do Not Want for This Poem to End.”

Her:        Have you ever experienced love?

Him: When winter comes, a passion 

        for something absent touches me.

         I give a name, any name, and I forget.

Her: What is it that you forget? Tell me!

Him: The trembling fever, and what I 

         hallucinate under the blankets when 

         I gasp: Cover me. cover me.

Her: It is not love what you’re describing.

Him: It is not love what I’m describing.

Her: Have you even felt the desire to live

          death in the arms of a woman?

Him: When absence is complete, 

         I become present…

         And when the faraway breaks, so 

       death embraces life,

               and life embraces death like lovers.

Her: And then what?

Him: And then what?

Her: And you unite with her, 

              that you cannot distinguish her hands

               from yours, and you evaporate like 

       a blue cloud.

       No differences between you. 

      Are your two bodies…

             or two shadows… or?

Him: Who is the female — the metaphor 

         of Earth in us?

         Who is the male — the sky?

Her: That’s how love songs started. 

         Then, you have experienced love.

Him: When presence is complete and the 

         unknown is tamed,  I disappear. 

Her: It is the winter, and perhaps,

          you become your favorite past in 

        the winter.

Him: Perhaps, so good bye.

Her: Perhaps, so good bye.

— Translated by Ali Harb