News
Palestinian poet drowns trying to reach Europe
3 March 2023
A young Palestinian man and a father from Gaza named Mahmoud Bakir wrote a poem in February 2021 about why he is fleeing and expecting his death during the journey by sea. Mahmoud sank today while attempting to reach Europe.
Tell the sea after the news of my death
that I wasn't that thirsty to fill my lungs with his water,
that I am only an extremely exhausted man
who suffered all his life long from poverty
who work all day long
to pursue a dignified life for his children
I wanted to flee like all poor people
I went to you, sea
to pull me out of the darkness
to take me to a brighter trajectory
You misunderstood me, sea
I told you that I wasn't thirsty