'Notice he says what I say: recognition/acknowledgement precedes everything, precedes arguments over water rights and territory.'

When the reconciliation process (between the indigenous people and us whiteys) began here in Australia in the late 80s and early 90s, one of the first things on the table was a national apology, particularly to the Stolen Generations (those Aboriginal kids forcibly removed from their parents).

The conservatives were deadset against it of course – 'more useless symbolism from the liberal lefties, no substantive change or improvement, just the usual feelgood hot air' but the Aborigines themselves said they needed to hear the word 'sorry' first.

Recognition/acknowledgement must come first, then you can start to fix things up.

Poetic consciousness itself ignores boundaries, though touches people deeply within boundaries.

Poets don't produce music, they live poetic lives. Their products are really by-products.

In bridging beyond borders, real poets touch even enemies with common references.

I haven't read much Darwish (except what's been published in obituary, and mostly his political works).

I'll bet that his work on the place would be a bridge. And, that would enable his political work to cross the bridge.

When ONLY the political is presented, his work ceases to be potentially a bridge, and makes the river a divider rather than a unifier.

I hope this is true.

Do you think it is possible?

The aboriginal apology was 400 years after the fact though.

Me too. And it has much to do with the huge time span of his experience, as suggested by Phil above. (Had I've been him, wouldn't I have been an Irgun fighter myself?)

He feels like a wise old men, with a timelessly young soul, always willing to learn. Something very rare compared with the life-is-a-fight power mad mainstream: the reigning win or loose tale.

"He Embraces His Murderer":
translated by Munir Akash and Carolyn Forche

He embraces his murderer. May he win his heart: Do you feel angrier if I survive?

Brother….My brother! What did I do to make you destroy me?

Two birds fly overhead. Why don't you shoot upwards?
What do you say?

You grew tired of my embrace and my smell. Aren't you just as tired of the fear in me?
Then throw your gun in the river!
What do you say?

The enemy on the riverbank aims his machine gun at an embrace?
Shoot the enemy?

Thus we avoid the enemy's bullets and keep from falling into sin.
What do you say?

You'll kill me so the enemy can go home to our home and descend again into the law of the jungle?

What did you do with my mother's coffee, with your mother's coffee? What crime did I committ to make you destroy me? I will never cease to embrace you.

And I will never release you.

Wouldn't that mean it more effectively draws attention on that side? Needs getting used to, admittedly.

But would it be difficult to take links and archives to one side and the ads to the other?

This one wasn't even a bad selection: Mahmoud Darwish (1941 – 2008)

Maybe the Google alghoritms are better than the firms keeping up with its pace? Some links suggested offers that weren't there.