written in the Arabic Form (after poet Marwa Helal)
loved we because
kindness is memory love’s my because
punishment its also is gift love’s because
separated are we
together us loved has who everyone thank to writing am I
we longer no are we today because
cannot checkpoints military what conquer to love ask
goodness is she
meaning its and face its be to her knew I
love my because
balcony a for sea the of entirety the deserves
dowry a for afternoons Jerusalem gilded
we veil wedding a for spring of anemones the all
longer no are
loss and love of note first like ل*
waves the facing us to back its with
never is there if even
resides she 1 longer no are we though another
conquered and free heart my in
unending this resist I
+ + +
لا تصالح*
Based on 50 years and seven decades. Based also on the story of two Palestinian lovers, one from Gazaand the other from Jerusalem, who met and fell in love at Birzeit University in the West Bank, and broke off their engagement because occupation prevented them from living in the same city.