The Words of Abu Suleiman, 57           Jenin Refugee Camp

Our minds are shut, our hearts are dying

We reach out to freedom—it is right here.

Each time we try they catch our hand.

Lesh Amreeka bitaiesh fii horeeya?[1]

Lesh Europa bitaiesh fii horeeya?[2]

Afrika bitaiesh fii horeeya—AFRIKA![3]

Each one lives in freedom in his own city.

We have no freedom—where is our freedom?

Bad al sawareekh, al jarafat shaghalu heck.[4]

Kul al-alam tries to kill us; they have killed our hearts.[5]

Hitler ma amalish heck.[6]

I don’t trust anything now.

These stones—each one has a story.

If they could only talk!

There were 40 soldiers in our house.

If you want to drink—no water.

If you want to pee—in your pants.

Believe me! The iron (rebar) was afraid of the rockets.

We hear and we see

But we don’t feel.

Real words come from the heart.

Where are the neighbors?

I don’t know.

No one feels like me—believe me!

I see everything.

I see all the people.

No one feels like me.

Where are the neighbors?

Every problem I feel.

They killed two soldiers there (pointing to a spot 100 m. away)

Then they killed four fighters.

They left.

They came back angry.

Dictated to Brian Wood