Words by Palestinian writer Refaat Alareer (1979-2023). The poem in full:
If Iย must die,ย
you mustย liveย
to tell myย storyย
to sell myย thingsย
to buy aย piece ofย clothย
and someย strings,ย
(make it white with aย long tail)ย
so that aย child, somewhere inย Gazaย
while looking heaven in theย eyeย
awaiting his dad who left in aย blazeโย
and bid no oneย farewellย
not even to hisย fleshย
not even toย himselfโย
sees the kite, my kite you made, flying upย aboveย
and thinks for aย moment an angel isย thereย
bringing backย loveย
If Iย must dieย
let it bringย hopeย
let it be aย tale







