Palestine Forever

Saadi Youssef

We will keep knocking at this space
until we see the flag
amid the desolation
Until the bird roams
and we set it free toward the stars
to take the oath 

*

Palestine is in the prairies
In shelter-larks
In intense bullets
In the launcher’s scream
Palestine is in songs
In a jet-black lock of hair
In the martyr’s garment
In iron that cuts iron
In a hand
In a trigger
In the homeland
Approaching

***

[Translated from the Arabic by Sinan Antoon.]