
O’ pupils of Gaza
Care not . . about our broadcasts . .
And hear us not . .
Strike . .
Strike . .
With all your powers
And firmly in your hands take matters
And ask us not . .
We the people of arithmetic . .
And of addition . . And of subtraction . .
Your wars do carry on.. And abstain from us . .
We’re the deserters
from the service,
Your ropes do bring
And hang us . . .
We’re mortals . .
Who possess not tombs
And orphans . .
who possess not masters
We kept already to our rooms . .
And we asked you
To fight the dragon . .
We’ve diminished, before you
A thousand century . .
Poem by Nizar Qabbani





