I learnt all the words worthy of the court of blood So that I could break the rule I learnt all the words and broke them up To make a single word: Homeland.
Mahmoud DarwishRead
Against barbarity, poetry can resist only by confirming its attachment to human fragility like a blade of grass growing on a wall while armies march by.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Poetry serves as a reminder of human vulnerability in the face of destruction and conflict.
In this quote, Mahmoud Darwish suggests that poetry has the power to resist the brutality of the world, but its strength lies in recognizing and embracing human fragility. The imagery of a blade of grass growing on a wall amidst the march of armies symbolizes resilience and beauty in the midst of conflict, highlighting the importance of art as a means of preserving humanity.
Themes
PoetryFragilityResistanceHumanityArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about art's role in society, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of poetry in understanding our shared vulnerabilities.
More from Mahmoud Darwish
All quotes βFar away, our dreams have nothing to do with what we do. The wind carries the night, and passes on, aimless.
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Some people ask, 'How do you attract the young and so many different people when your poetry is complicated and different?' I say, 'My accomplishment is that my readers trust me and accept my suggestions for change.'
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The days have taught you not to trust happiness because it hurts when it deceives.
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A person can only be born in one place. However, he may die several times elsewhere: in the exiles and prisons, and in a homeland transformed by the occupation and oppression into a nightmare.
Mahmoud DarwishRead
The metaphor for Palestine is stronger than the Palestine of reality.
Mahmoud DarwishRead
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