I Am No Palestinian

I am no courageous, Fearless, valorous, gallant, Proud, adventurous, Selfless patriot I am a soul in exile Expressing my thoughts in All languages but mine '' Hi…I am Palestinian'' '' Salut…Je suis palestinienne'' I cut my mother tongue In half Palestinian poet Rafeef Ziadeh was right when She said ''Allow me to speak my Arab tongue Before they occupy my language as well'' Well… to that I must add Allow me to be the Arab That I am Allow me my right To learn, to travel, to pray Allow me to walk through any Foreign street without having To feel this shame Without having to think twice About my clothes, my face, my name Or the visa I had to work Day and night for the claim Because at the end of the day I am not the one to blame For Bin Laden, 9/11, and all your Absurd schemes and games I am but a soul in exile I am in no hall of fame I have to opt to be Someone I am not Just to fit in your fame Despite the agony I went through Despite the struggles I overcame Despite the diplomas, the degrees, The awards I acclaim I am still no Palestinian No matter how many '' I love Palestine'' stickers I stick on my car No matter how many times I cry over Gaza and Argue over the Israeli settlements No matter how many times I curse the Zionists, blame the media, And swear at the Arab leaders I am still no Palestinian Even if I memorize the Names of all the Palestinian cities Even if I recite Mahmood Darwiche's Poetry and draw Handala on my walls Even as I stand here tonight In front of you all I am no Palestinian And I might never ever be And that's exactly what Makes the Palestinian In me… Read in the Twinge Dubai Event