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The Music of Human Flesh
The translator Denys Johnson-Davies says in his introduction:
'The key to an understanding of his poetry is that it consists largely of an extended and desperate love affair with his lost homeland . . . Mahmoud Darwish, however, is not only a political poet, he is expressly a Marxist one. With the other revolutionary poets throughout the Arab world who today constitute the modern movement in poetry, he has called for the casting off of the outworn conventions of the classical tradition.
He insists that modern poets rebel against the clichés, verbal and emotional, that have dogged Arabic writing during its long period of decadence.’
Darwish’s power however is firstly in his poetry, and he is justifiably enjoys the sort of fame which in the West is accorded to popular singers. His readings are attended by thousands.
However, as the selection shows, his poetry has gradually become more personal and oblique in his search for a solution to his own human dilemma.
'The key to an understanding of his poetry is that it consists largely of an extended and desperate love affair with his lost homeland . . . Mahmoud Darwish, however, is not only a political poet, he is expressly a Marxist one. With the other revolutionary poets throughout the Arab world who today constitute the modern movement in poetry, he has called for the casting off of the outworn conventions of the classical tradition.
He insists that modern poets rebel against the clichés, verbal and emotional, that have dogged Arabic writing during its long period of decadence.’
Darwish’s power however is firstly in his poetry, and he is justifiably enjoys the sort of fame which in the West is accorded to popular singers. His readings are attended by thousands.
However, as the selection shows, his poetry has gradually become more personal and oblique in his search for a solution to his own human dilemma.
- GenresPoetry
71 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1980
1 person is currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Mahmoud Darwish
224 books12k followers محمود درويش
Mahmoud Darwish was a respected Palestinian poet and author who won numerous awards for his literary output and was regarded as the Palestinian national poet. In his work, Palestine became a metaphor for the loss of Eden, birth and resurrection, and the anguish of dispossession and exile.
The Lotus Prize (1969; from the Union of Afro-Asian Writers)
Lenin Peace Prize (1983; from the USSR)
The Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (1993; from France)
The Lannan Foundation Prize for Cultural Freedom (2001)
Prince Claus Awards (2004)
"Bosnian stećak" (2007)
Golden Wreath of Struga Poetry Evenings (2007)
The International Forum for Arabic Poetry prize (2007)
محمود درويش هو شاعرٌ فلسطيني وعضو المجلس الوطني الفلسطيني التابع لمنظمة التحرير الفلسطينية، وله دواوين شعرية مليئة بالمضامين الحداثية. ولد عام 1941 في قرية البروة وهي قرية فلسطينية تقع في الجليل قرب ساحل عكا, حيث كانت أسرته تملك أرضًا هناك. خرجت الأسرة برفقة اللاجئين الفلسطينيين في العام 1948 إلى لبنان، ثم عادت متسللة عام 1949 بعد توقيع اتفاقيات الهدنة، لتجد القرية مهدمة وقد أقيم على أراضيها موشاف (قرية زراعية إسرائيلية)"أحيهود". وكيبوتس يسعور فعاش مع عائلته في قرية الجديدة.
بعد إنهائه تعليمه الثانوي في مدرسة يني الثانوية في كفرياسيف انتسب إلى الحزب الشيوعي الإسرائيلي وعمل في صحافة الحزب مثل الإتحاد والجديد التي أصبح في ما بعد مشرفًا على تحريرها، كما اشترك في تحرير جريدة الفجر التي كان يصدرها مبام.
أحد أهم الشعراء الفلسطينيين والعرب الذين ارتبط اسمهم بشعر الثورة والوطن. يعتبر درويش أحد أبرز من ساهم بتطوير الشعر العربي الحديث وإدخال الرمزية فيه. في شعر درويش يمتزج الحب بالوطن بالحبيبة الأنثى. قام بكتابة وثيقة إعلان الاستقلال الفلسطيني التي تم إعلانها في الجزائر.
Tras una juventud dentro de la Palestina ocupada, años salpicados por numerosos arestos, se trasladó a Egipto y después al Líbano para realizar su sueño de renovación poética. Será en su exilio en Paris, tras tener que abandonar forzosamente el Líbano, donde logre su madurez poético y logre un reconocimiento ante los ojos occidentales.
En 1996, tras los acuerdos de Oslo para la autonomía de los territorios de Gaza y Cisjordania, dimite como ministro de Cultura de la Organización para la Liberación de Palestina y regresa a Ramallah. Allí dirige la revista literaria Al Karmel, cuytos archivos fueron destruidos por el ejército israelí durante el asedio a la ciudad en el año 2002.
Mahmoud Darwish was a respected Palestinian poet and author who won numerous awards for his literary output and was regarded as the Palestinian national poet. In his work, Palestine became a metaphor for the loss of Eden, birth and resurrection, and the anguish of dispossession and exile.
The Lotus Prize (1969; from the Union of Afro-Asian Writers)
Lenin Peace Prize (1983; from the USSR)
The Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (1993; from France)
The Lannan Foundation Prize for Cultural Freedom (2001)
Prince Claus Awards (2004)
"Bosnian stećak" (2007)
Golden Wreath of Struga Poetry Evenings (2007)
The International Forum for Arabic Poetry prize (2007)
محمود درويش هو شاعرٌ فلسطيني وعضو المجلس الوطني الفلسطيني التابع لمنظمة التحرير الفلسطينية، وله دواوين شعرية مليئة بالمضامين الحداثية. ولد عام 1941 في قرية البروة وهي قرية فلسطينية تقع في الجليل قرب ساحل عكا, حيث كانت أسرته تملك أرضًا هناك. خرجت الأسرة برفقة اللاجئين الفلسطينيين في العام 1948 إلى لبنان، ثم عادت متسللة عام 1949 بعد توقيع اتفاقيات الهدنة، لتجد القرية مهدمة وقد أقيم على أراضيها موشاف (قرية زراعية إسرائيلية)"أحيهود". وكيبوتس يسعور فعاش مع عائلته في قرية الجديدة.
بعد إنهائه تعليمه الثانوي في مدرسة يني الثانوية في كفرياسيف انتسب إلى الحزب الشيوعي الإسرائيلي وعمل في صحافة الحزب مثل الإتحاد والجديد التي أصبح في ما بعد مشرفًا على تحريرها، كما اشترك في تحرير جريدة الفجر التي كان يصدرها مبام.
أحد أهم الشعراء الفلسطينيين والعرب الذين ارتبط اسمهم بشعر الثورة والوطن. يعتبر درويش أحد أبرز من ساهم بتطوير الشعر العربي الحديث وإدخال الرمزية فيه. في شعر درويش يمتزج الحب بالوطن بالحبيبة الأنثى. قام بكتابة وثيقة إعلان الاستقلال الفلسطيني التي تم إعلانها في الجزائر.
Tras una juventud dentro de la Palestina ocupada, años salpicados por numerosos arestos, se trasladó a Egipto y después al Líbano para realizar su sueño de renovación poética. Será en su exilio en Paris, tras tener que abandonar forzosamente el Líbano, donde logre su madurez poético y logre un reconocimiento ante los ojos occidentales.
En 1996, tras los acuerdos de Oslo para la autonomía de los territorios de Gaza y Cisjordania, dimite como ministro de Cultura de la Organización para la Liberación de Palestina y regresa a Ramallah. Allí dirige la revista literaria Al Karmel, cuytos archivos fueron destruidos por el ejército israelí durante el asedio a la ciudad en el año 2002.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 3, 2023
Like unwanted leaves
The flocks of birds fell
Into the wells of time.
And I pick up the blue wings.
*
Why are we attempting this voyage
When your eyes have deprived me of the sea
And the sands have caught fire in us?
Why are we attempting?
The words we did not say
Drive us away . . .
And all countries are mirrors
And all mirrors stone,
So why are we attempting this voyage?
The flocks of birds fell
Into the wells of time.
And I pick up the blue wings.
*
Why are we attempting this voyage
When your eyes have deprived me of the sea
And the sands have caught fire in us?
Why are we attempting?
The words we did not say
Drive us away . . .
And all countries are mirrors
And all mirrors stone,
So why are we attempting this voyage?
October 12, 2025
Mahmoud Darwish é conhecido como o poeta nacional da Palestina e inclusive redigiu a declaração de independência Palestina em 1988.
The Music of human flesh foi traduzido por Denys Johnson Davies para o inglês em 1980 com os poemas da juventude de Darwish (não completara quarenta anos ainda), como marxista e antissionista, sua poesia está cheia de vigor e potência, marcadamente revolucionária.
The Music of human flesh foi traduzido por Denys Johnson Davies para o inglês em 1980 com os poemas da juventude de Darwish (não completara quarenta anos ainda), como marxista e antissionista, sua poesia está cheia de vigor e potência, marcadamente revolucionária.
April 27, 2023
i liked this better than the other collection of his i read. i’m not sure why but the prose just worked more for me in this one- maybe because it was a little more metaphorical and symbolic??? not sure but it was definitely still beautiful and the line “i want a good heart not a loaded rifle” kind of kicked my ass
January 6, 2024
From the grove of olive trees
Came the echo-
While I on fire was crucified.
Tear me not to pieces, I say to the crows,
For maybe I shall return home
And maybe the sky will rain,
Maybe
It will put out this rapacious wood.
I sha l l come down one day from my cross
Who knows . . .
How shall I return: barefoot and naked?
Came the echo-
While I on fire was crucified.
Tear me not to pieces, I say to the crows,
For maybe I shall return home
And maybe the sky will rain,
Maybe
It will put out this rapacious wood.
I sha l l come down one day from my cross
Who knows . . .
How shall I return: barefoot and naked?
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews