Mourid Barghouti

1944 / Deir Ghassana / Palestine

It's Also Fine

It's also fine to die in our beds
on a clean pillow
and among our friends.

It's fine to die, once,
our hands crossed on our chests
empty and pale
with no scratches, no chains, no banners,
and no petitions.

It's fine to have an undustful death,
no holes in our shirts,
and no evidence in our ribs.

It's fine to die
with a white pillow, not the pavement, under our cheeks,
our hands resting in those of our loved ones
surrounded by desperate doctors and nurses,
with nothing left but a graceful farewell,
paying no attention to history,
leaving this world as it is,
hoping that, someday, someone else
will change it.
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