Identity Card Poem by Mahmoud Darwish

Identity Card

Rating: 4.2


Write down !
I am an Arab
And my identity card number is fifty thousand
I have eight children
And the ninth will come after a summer
Will you be angry?
.
Write down!
I am an Arab
Employed with fellow workers at a quarry
I have eight children
I get them bread
Garments and books
from the rocks..
I do not supplicate charity at your doors
Nor do I belittle myself at the footsteps of your chamber
So will you be angry?
.
Write down!
I am an Arab
I have a name without a title
Patient in a country
Where people are enraged
My roots
Were entrenched before the birth of time
And before the opening of the eras
Before the pines, and the olive trees
And before the grass grew.
My father.. descends from the family of the plow
Not from a privileged class
And my grandfather..was a farmer
Neither well-bred, nor well-born!
Teaches me the pride of the sun
Before teaching me how to read
And my house is like a watchman's hut
Made of branches and cane
Are you satisfied with my status?
I have a name without a title!
.
Write down!
I am an Arab
You have stolen the orchards of my ancestors
And the land which I cultivated
Along with my children
And you left nothing for us
Except for these rocks..
So will the State take them
As it has been said?!
.
Therefore!
Write down on the top of the first page:
I do not hate poeple
Nor do I encroach
But if I become hungry
The usurper's flesh will be my food
Beware..
Beware..
Of my hunger
And my anger!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Dutendra Chamling 28 October 2015

...Write down! I am an Arab... What a wonderful poem.

19 3 Reply
Ray Gibbs 22 January 2015

a mighty poet in the Street

7 1 Reply
Edward Reid 27 October 2015

Why can't you find a poet to read this poem? Stephen Dawkins could have read this more expressively! The reader even pronounced the typo poeple as it was misspelt! Ed Reid New Zealand

5 1 Reply
caroline 20 January 2018

wonderful poem. the reader is terrible however. Please get someone else to read these poems. she sound like a robot

4 2 Reply
MD MONIRUL ISLAM 13 January 2022

Wonderfully wonderful

2 1 Reply
Salma Ahmad Khan 18 September 2020

ALLAH {SWT} WILL Give SUCCESS to the Palestinians! I have NO DOUBT about it!

8 0 Reply
Eduardo Israel Cruz 24 June 2020

Write down I am an Arab An my identification number is fifty thousand Love this. Great Poem.

3 0 Reply
sr 03 August 2021

what is the significance of 50000

0 0
Kathleen.Melody 25 April 2020

5523 N Elm Rd

0 0 Reply
Kumarmani Mahakul 06 May 2019

Beware.. Beware.. Of my hunger And my anger! ........so touching. Beautiful poem.

4 0 Reply
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