Resistance and Anger in Mahmoud Darwish: Introduction
“Every beautiful poem is a resistance” (Amauta), and this sentiment became the hallmark of his poetry, reflecting resistance and anger in Mahmoud Darwish. In fact, his background played a significant role in shaping the poet who “witnessed and survived the obliteration, displacement, and internal exile that would mark the Palestinian tragedy and become central themes in his poetry” (Amauta). Born in Ramallah, the poet joined the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and faced arrest five times but couldn’t save his homeland or his home. With each return, the occupation extended beyond its previous boundaries. In this struggle, he not only lost his home but also a sense of identity. Both of his poems, “Identity Card” and “I Come From There,” demonstrate his quest for identity. When faced with failure, the poet becomes bitter, finding words that express his frustration, resistance, and anger. The expression of resistance in both poems stems from homelessness, loss of identity, and dispossession.
Homelessness and Resistance and Anger in Mahmoud Darwish
Homelessness is prominently featured in both poems, particularly highlighted by the unforgettable refrain in “Identity Card” – “Write down, I’m an Arab!” This refrain serves as a crystallization of Palestinian resistance against Israeli attempts to erase Palestinian identity and history (Amauta). The theme is palpable when Darwish declares, “My roots / Were entrenched before the birth of time” (Identity Card 21-26), conveying the profound uprooting of his heritage. This displacement becomes a source of his anger, evident in his repeated assertion throughout the poem that he is an Arab.
The title “I Come From There” evokes a sense of lamentation for the loss of his homeland, emphasizing his current state of homelessness. The concluding lines, “I learnt all the words and broke them up / To make a single word: Homeland…” (I Come From There 18-21), reveal his attempt to construct a home through words, even though physical return is denied. Darwish underscores his diminished status, transforming from a person with roots to a homeless individual, questioning his occupiers, “Are you satisfied with my status?” (Identity Card 33-38).
Occupation and Resistance and Anger in Mahmoud Darwish
Furthermore, when Israel occupied almost the entire city of Ramallah, the poet’s relatives and other inhabitants lost their homes to the settlers, leading to the loss of their identities. Forced into refugee camps, they were provided with identity cards but not a genuine sense of identity. In his poem “Identity Card,” Darwish laments the profound loss of his identity. Thus, he seeks to convey to the world, the occupier, and their allies that, “Write down! / I am an Arab / And my identity card number is fifty thousand” (Identity Card 1-3). He repeats these lines nearly five times, emphasizing that he has not forgotten the impact of the loss.
Despite the upheaval, Darwish asserts that his Arabic identity, habits, and tribal conventions remain intact, serving as a reminder of his roots where the spirit of revenge is kept alive, and identity preserved. When stripped of his identity, the poet warns of potential repercussions, stating, “But if I become hungry / The usurper’s flesh will be my food / Beware…” (Identity Card 51-53). In the absence of identity, frustration prevails, leading Darwish to create personifications that lament the loss alongside him, as seen in the lines, “When the sky weeps for her mother. / And I weep to make myself known / To a returning cloud” (I Come From There 14-17). Here, the poet personifies the sky, symbolizing its tears over the loss of identity.
Dispossession and Resistance and Anger in Mahmoud Darwish
The profound sense of dispossession is a prominent emotion expressed in Darwish’s poetry. He metaphorically transforms Palestine into a symbol, a sought-after land. In the words of Ghazali, “The poet Mahmoud Darwish was the voice of the Palestinian odyssey, whose stark writing reflected the desperation and alienation of the Palestinian people” (Ghazali). This alienation and desperation manifest as anger in Darwish’s poetry, serving as a warning to the occupiers and usurpers: “Beware…/Beware…/Of my hunger / And my anger!” (Identity Card 57-61).
The saying that ‘a hungry man is an angry man’ resonates here, as the sense of dispossession gives rise to anger, resistance, and, in some cases, what is termed as terrorism—a label specifically assigned to those engaged in resistance. “I Come From There” also conveys a similar sentiment, albeit in milder language, focusing on the memory of the homeland. However, “Identity Card” stands out as a highly charged poem in which the poet expresses anger and resistance more fervently than in any other poem.
Conclusion: Resistance and Anger in Mahmoud Darwish
In short, both poems convey Mahmoud Darwish’s intense anger and his firm assertion that if his identity is forcibly taken from him, he would react with wild intensity, reflecting his anger and the deeply ingrained sense of conventional revenge for which Arabs are known. Darwish not only expresses his anger but also outlines the reasons that have pushed him to the brink of this poetic diatribe. These reasons encompass the loss of identity, dispossession, and the actions of the occupiers who have driven the Palestinians away frsom their homeland and homes.
Works Cited: Resistance and Anger in Mahmoud Darwish
- Amauta. “Every Beautiful Poem Is An Act Of Resistance” – Mahmoud Darwish, 1941-2008. 09 September 2008. <http://www.solidarity-us.org/site/node/1896>. Accessed 28 Jan. 2022.
- Darwish, Mahmoud. Almond Blossoms and Beyond. Trans. Muhammad Shaheen. Interlink Books, 2009.
- Ghazali, Said. Mahmoud Darwish: Palestinian ‘poet of the resistance’ . 11 August 2008. <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/mahmoud-darwish-palestinian-poet-of-the-resistance-890263.html>. Accessed 29 Jan. 2022
- Handal, Nathalie. Mahmoud Darwish: Palestine’s Poet of Exile. May 2002. <http://progressive.org/node/1575 >. Accessed 29 Jan. 2014
- Wasserstein, David J. “Prince of Poets.” Autumn 2012. The American Scholar. <http://theamericanscholar.org/prince-of-poets/#.UqmKbCcy2So>. Accessed 29 Jan. 2022
Relevant Questions about Resistance and Anger in Mahmoud Darwish
- How does the recurring theme of “Resistance and Anger in Mahmoud Darwish” manifest itself in his poetry, particularly in the context of the Palestinian struggle for identity and homeland?
- In what ways does Mahmoud Darwish employ poetic devices and language to evoke a sense of “Resistance and Anger in Mahmoud Darwish” in his works, serving as a reflection of the broader Palestinian experience?
- How do the themes of “Resistance and Anger in Mahmoud Darwish” contribute to the overall impact and significance of his poetry, shaping a narrative that goes beyond personal expression to become a voice for the collective struggle and resilience of the Palestinian people?