The Return

The Return

When the spring returns every year

When the spring returns every year,

The swallow returns to the sky to tell the news,

The bees return to sip

The morning coffee with the flowers,

The butterflies return to share

The breakfast with the roses,

The snow returns to run

To the rivers with the creeks;

And when the stems return to announce

That the fruit is arriving soon

And the poppy returns to announce

The return of spring every March;

Then, the people of Palestine return to remember

Haifa, Jaffa, Jerusalem and Al-Aghwar

***

Every time a spring party begins

Love returns to play with secrets,

So the lovers’ fingers interlock

In the ways of rendezvous

And the hearts return

To dance on the strings,

And so the music is born

From the pulse of thoughts

And the songs are tuned

With the rhymes of poetry,

Then the people of Palestine return

To sing the song of the free

***

Every time the lemon showers

With the rain,

The olive is crowned

Master of all other trees,

The spikes of wheat wave (farewell)

To the caravans of the martyrs,

The palm says ‘I don’t bend down

But to the one God;

Then, the people of Palestine will say

‘We will return to make our destiny’

***

No matter how long they hide the moon’s light,

Or prevent the return of the sun to the daylight,

Or cut the seagull’s wings,

Or prevent the arrival of the boat and the sailor,

Or fill the jails,

And prevent news and visitors;

The voice of freedom will return

From behind the barriers

And the people of Palestine will be

More and more insistent to return

***

By: Tarif Youssef-Agha

Houston, Texas

May 2011