Promises Of The Storm

by Mahmoud Darwish

So be it

I can assure you that I will refuse death

And burn the, tears of the bleeding songs

And strip the olive trees

Of ill their counterfeit branches

If I have been serenading happiness

Somewhere beyond the eyelids of frightened eyes

That is because the storm

Promised me wine and new toasts

And rainbows

Because the storm

Swept away the voices of idiotic, obedient birds

And swept away the counterfeit branches

From the trunks of standing trees

So be it

I must be proud of you

Oh wounded city

You are lightning in our sad night

When the street frowns at me

You protect me from the shadows

And the looks of hatred

I will go on serenading happiness

Somewhere beyond the eyelids of frightened eyes

For from the time the storm begin to rage in my country

It has promised me wine and rainbows.