Offering
translated by
Kareem James Abu-Zeid
Hunger strike, fortieth day*
Your bodies flutter on the ceiling
of the room I can see your slow gestures
the small bones in the joints
of your hands your eyes where the night rises
I must cross the pain again
listen to your heart that’s growing
weaker & weaker
witness this madness
the body devouring itself
your last offering to freedom
around you the barking
of the jailers and their dogs while
your life goes just like that sacrificed
to their senseless dream of conquest
Translation from the French
Author’s note: 1,700 Palestinian prisoners went on hunger strike in June 2017 to earn respect for their most basic rights. As of the fortieth day, 800 were still refusing to eat.
