On January 15, 2024, forty days after Palestinian poet, editor, and educator Refaat Alareer was killed under Israeli bombardment, we are calling for a Global Day of Action, followed by a week of events, in which we read his poetry in public and refuse business as usual, demanding an end to the genocide and the occupation. One thing you can do to participate is to read his poetry in public. Here, “If I Must Die,” in 39 languages.
Find more translations collected by Refaat’s publisher, Just World Books, and at IfIMustDie.
ENGLISH ORIGINAL
SPANISH
Si he de morir
Si he de morir,
tú debes vivir
para contar mi historia
para vender mis cosas
para comprar un trozo de tela
y unos cordeles,
(hazla blanca
con una larga cola)
para que un niño
en alguna parte de Gaza
al mirar al cielo
mientras espera a su padre
que partió en una llamarada—
y no se despidió de nadie
ni siquiera de su propia carne,
ni siquiera de sí mismo—
vea la cometa, la cometa
que me hiciste, volando
en lo alto
y piense
por un instante
que ahí está un ángel
devolviéndole el amor.
Si he de morir
deja que inspire esperanza,
deja que sea una historia.
Translated to Spanish by D. P. Snyder.
ARABIC
Translation to Arabic by @lulurafat.
GALICIAN
Se hei de morrer
Se hei de morrer,
Ti debes vivir
Para contar a miña historia
Para vender as miñas cousas
Para mercar un anaco de tea
E algunhas cordas
(faina branca
Cunha longa cola)
Para que un pequeno,
Nalgún lugar de Gaza
Namentres mira ao ceo
Aos ollos
Agardando ao seu pai
Que marchou cunha labarada–
E non se puido despedir
De ninguén,
Nin sequera da súa carne
Nin sequera de si mesmo–
Vexa ese papaventos, o meu papaventos
Que ti fixeches, voando
Arriba,
E pense por un momento
Que aí hai un anxo
Traéndolle de volta o amor.
Se hei de morrer,
Deixa que traia esperanza,
Deixa que sexa unha historia.
Translation to Galician by Soliña.
HINDI
Translation to Hindi by Vaibhav Sharma.
CHINESE
Translation to Chinese by Yilin Wang.
SINDHI
Translated to Sindhi by @DeTrop_.
ROMANIAN
Translation to Romanian by Eleonor Botoman.
TAMAZIGHT
Translation to Tamazight by Hamid Ouyachi.
WELSH
Translation to Welsh by Iestyn Tyne.
URDU
Translation to Urdu by @EeshaalU.
SINHALESE
Translation to Sinhalese by Hasitha Liyanage.
TAMIL
Translation to Tamil by N Vinoth Kumar.
SARAIKI
Translation to Saraiki by Tanveer Hasnain Mohana.
TURKISH
Translation to Turkish by @karpuzcevirdegi.
INDONESIAN
Translation to Indonesian by @khodiheryawan.
VIETNAMESE
Translation to Vietnamese by @carbsafterdark.
MALTESE
Translation to Maltese by Stephen Cachia.
FARSI
Translation to Farsi by @Marebarrow1929.
NORWEGIAN
Translation to Norwegian by @AMaskOfAnarchy.
TIGRINYA
Translation to Tigrinya by @abrih1m0.
KOREAN
Translation to Korean by Jack Saebyok Jung 정새벽.
IRISH
FRENCH
Translation to French by @fluorescentful.
KAPAMPANGAN
Translation to Kapampangan by @MahikaRealismo.
IGBO
Translation to Igbo by @ChiiOganihu.
FILIPINO
Translation to Filipino by Jacob Laneria.
POLISH
Translation to Polish by @KamilMozel.
SWEDISH
Translation to Swedish by @Nieszkas.
DUTCH
Translation to Dutch by @willemscomrade.
SWAHILI
Translation to Swahili by Ida Hadjivayanis.
NEPALI
Translation to Nepali by Timothy Aryal.
DHIVEHI
Translation to Dhivehi by @ishahr.
BANGLA
Translation to Bangla by @shimmeringolds.
GERMAN
Translation to German by @Merlinonasunday.
MALAYALAM
Translation to Malayalam by @/harikriss.
SUNDANESE
Translation to Sundanese by Mahardika.
JAPANESE (MODERN)
Translation to modern Japanese by Mana Satoh.
JAPANESE (CLASSICAL)
Translation to Japanese by @NaokiQYamamoto.
HEBREW
Translation to Hebrew by Yoav Litvin.
TAGALOG
Kung ako ay mamamatay
Kung ako ay mamamatay,
dapat kang mabuhay
upang ilahad ang aking kuwento
upang ibenta ang aking mga ari-arian
upang makabili ng kapirasong tela
at ilang pisi,
(piliin mo yaong puti na mahaba ang buntot)
at nang ang isang paslit, sa isang lugar sa Gaza
habang tinitingnan ang araw
at hinihintay ang amang naglaho sa apoy —
at walang pinagpaalaman
hindi ang kanyang dugo’t laman
hindi man lang ang sarili —
makikita niya ang saranggola,
ang saranggola kong gawa mo,
lumilipad sa himpapawid,
at saglit niyang aakalain na may anghel doon
na nagbabalik ng pag-ibig.
Kung ako ay mamamatay
nawa’y magdala ito ng pag-asa,
nawa’y magsilbi itong salaysay.
Translated to Tagalog courtesy Gantala Press.
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