Here Ends the Bird’s Journey

Here ends the bird’s journey, our journey, the journey of words 
 after us a horizon for new birds, after us a horizon for new birds 
And we are the ones who pounded on the copper sky,
we pounded the sky to dig routes after us 
We made peace with our names above the base of the far away clouds;
 the base of the far away clouds 
we will sink shortly after the sinking of widows in the square of memories 
we pitched our tents for the last breeze: my gust, my gust
long live the poem  long live the road to it.
After us, the plants will grow and the plants will rise
 On roads not crossed by us; on roads that our stubborn lines presented 
Here we will excavate above the last boulders:
 Long live life, long live life 
fall in ourselves, after us a horizon for new birds 

Fewer Roses 
1985

Written by Mahmoud Darwish
Translated By Rachel Shamsie

Translation Collection: The Self, the Sea, and Shabjdeed