Happy New Year - 1981

Translation / Interpretation / Caption Text / Source

Arabic translation:

(bold text at bottom)

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Curator's Note:

The Arabic texts to the left and right of the image are two poems.

The poem on the right is by the late Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish and is titled:

Identity Card (1964)

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EXCERPT

Write it down!

I am an Arab

And my identity card number is fifty thousand

I have eight children

And the ninth will come after a summer

Will you be angry?

Write it down!

I am an Arab

Employed with fellow workers at a quarry

I have eight children

I get them bread

Garments and books from the rocks…

I do not supplicate charity at your doors

Nor do I belittle myself at the footsteps of your chamber

So will you be angry?

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The poem on the left is by the late Palestinian poet Tawfiq Ziad and is titled:

Here We Shall Remain (1964)

In Lydda, in Ramla, in the Galilee,

Here we shall remain

Like a wall upon your chest, and in your throat

Like a shard of glass

A cactus thorn,

And in your eyes

A sandstorm,

Here we shall remain

A wall upon your chest,

Clean in your restaurants,

Serve drinks in your bars,

Sweep the floors of your kitchens

To snatch a bite for our children

From your blue fangs

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Image source:

https://abedabdi.com/portfolio/staying-here

Artist / Designer / Photographer