If I must die, 

you must live 

to tell my story 

to sell my things 

to buy a piece of cloth 

and some strings, 

(make it white with a long tail) 

so that a child, somewhere in Gaza 

while looking heaven in the eye 

awaiting his dad who left in a blaze— 

and bid no one farewell 

not even to his flesh 

not even to himself— 

sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above 

and thinks for a moment an angel is there 

bringing back love 

If I must die 

let it bring hope 

let it be a tale.

___

"If I Must Die" by Refaat Alareer

Written in 2011, this poem was published online on November 1st 2023. Professor, writer, and editor Refaat Alareer was killed with his family by an Israeli airstrike on December 7th, 2023.

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