If I must die…!

If I must die, 

you must live 

to tell my story

If I must die 

let it bring hope 

let it be a tale.

___Dr. Refaat Alareer, 23 September 1979 – 6 December 2023

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

___________

Dr Reefat Alareer. 23 September 1979 – 6 December 2023) was a Palestinian writer, poet, professor, and activist from the Gaza Strip. He was murdered on a targeted Israeli air strike at his home in Gaza.