Will you carry me?

Our Father’s Day episode (#18: Shouki, Arak with Baba) features and honors the legacy of Dr. Shouki Kassis, father of Laila Kassis (#4: Laila, Goat’s Milk Labane). In the episode we hear about Amo Shouki’s childhood memories of his father. We also hear from Laila, Asma, and Noora about their father and grandfather. In the episode, Laila shares an excerpt from a poem that she read at her father’s memorial five months ago. We have included the poem in full in this blog post; “To my end… and to it’s end” by Mahmoud Darwish. 

Amo Shouki (right of center in the dark sweater) cutting his father’s (bottom left) birthday cake. 

To my end… and to its end

Mahmoud Darwish

Did you tire from the walk

my son, did you tire?

Yes, my father

The night has become long across the path

And the heart on your night’s earth

You didn’t cease to move with light steps like a cat

Climb on my shoulder

We will cross shortly

The final forest of oak trees

This is the Northern Galilee

And Lebanon is beyond it

And the sky is all ours

From Damascus to Acre’s beautiful stone wall

Then what?

We will return home

Do you know the path my son?

Yes, my father:

North of the main street’s Carob trees

A small path further narrowed by cactus

in the beginning, then as it continues to the water well

it widens and widens, until it looks

onto the vineyard of uncle Jameel

the seller of tobacco and sweets

Then it loses itself on the floor,

Before righting itself and heading home,

In the image of a parrot

Do you know the house my son?

Like I know the path, I know it:

Jasmine covers the wrought iron gate

And footsteps of light paint the stone stairs

And sunflowers in the backyard garden

And a pleasant bumble bee circles my grandfather’s breakfast

On its bamboo plate

And in the yard of the house is a water well, and willows, and a horse

And over the fence sway our leaves…

My father, did you tire

Is that sweat I see in your eyes?

My son I’m tired… will you carry me?

Just like you used to carry me my father

And I will carry this longing

To

my beginning and its beginning

And I will cross this path to

my end…and to its end