La Terre nous est etroite et autres poemes (1966 -1999)

Poetry by:Mahmoud Darwish
Translated from Arabic by: Elias Sanbar Poesie/Gallimard 2000

Mahmoud Darwish,the Palestinian poet par excellence,has been expressing the spirit,dreams,and life of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Territories and in the Diaspora for over 40 years.Born in 1941 in the village of Al Birwa in the Galilee,his family went into exile in 1948.One year later,his family decided to infiltrate back to their home,only to find out that it has been completely destroyed by the Israeli forces,and settled in Deir al Asad village instead. Imprisoned 5 times between 1961 and 1967,Darwish left the country in 1971 to take refuge in the Arab world where he continued to be an integral part of the Palestinian resistance.
 

Even though Palestinian by origin and expression,Darwish is considered one of the most prominent Arab poets of this century.His mastery of the language and profound understanding of human nature,topped by his prophetic vision has made him one of the most read,listened to,and translated poets in the Arab world.His audience all over the Arab world is extensive and varied:intellectuals,refugee camp dwellers,students,men and women,young and old alike.

The latest collection translated into French and published by Gallimard is unique for two reasons:for the first time the poet makes the selection of poetry himself rather than the editor,and it contains a preface by the poet himself.The collection also includes poems written over a period of 33 years: just before the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in 1967 until 1999,just after the poet's return to the West Bank -home that is not really home.This collection gives a panoramic view of the poet's life,vision,and poetry over the past 33 years:crucial years in contemporary Palestinian history.