Najwan Darwish is from Jerusalem. When he writes about Palestinian experience, as he does here, he often mixes in a healthy sense of irony.
In Hell
By Najwan Darwish
Translated by A.Z. Foreman
Click to hear me recite the original Arabic
1
In the 30s of the past century
The Nazis got the idea of putting their victims into gas chambers
Today's Nazis are professionals
And put the gas chambers right into their victims.
2
To Hell, O 2010!
To Hell! You occupiers with all your spawn can go
To Hell! All mankind if it is like you can go
To Hell! The boats and planes, the banks and billboards all can go
"To Hell..." I scream
And am well aware that I am the only one now
Squatting there
3
So let me just lie back
And rest my head on the pillows of Hell
The Original:
In Hell
By Najwan Darwish
Translated by A.Z. Foreman
Click to hear me recite the original Arabic
1
In the 30s of the past century
The Nazis got the idea of putting their victims into gas chambers
Today's Nazis are professionals
And put the gas chambers right into their victims.
2
To Hell, O 2010!
To Hell! You occupiers with all your spawn can go
To Hell! All mankind if it is like you can go
To Hell! The boats and planes, the banks and billboards all can go
"To Hell..." I scream
And am well aware that I am the only one now
Squatting there
3
So let me just lie back
And rest my head on the pillows of Hell
The Original:
في الجحيم
نجوان درويش
١
في ثلاثينات القرن الماضي
خطر للنازيين أن يضعوا ضحاياهم في غرف الغاز
نازيو اليوم أفضل حرفةً
يضعون غرف الغاز في ضحاياهم
٢
إلى الجحيم يا ٢٠١٠
إلى الجحيم أيّها المحتلون أنتم وجميع سلالاتكم
إلى الجحيم فليذهب الإنسان إذا كان على شاكلاتكم
إلى الجحيم فلتذهب السفن والطائرات والبنوك وإعلانات الشوارع
أصرخ "إلى الجحيم..."
وأعرف أنني الوحيد الذي يقبع الآن
هناك.
٣
فلأضطجع
ولأوسّد رأسي بمخدّات الجحيم!
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