The Harry Potter author quoted Mahmoud Darwish as she explained her opposition to a cultural boycott. But does his life and work fit with her message? [br]
JK Rowling has long possessed the mythical philosopher’s knack of turning every stone she touches to gold,so when she cited the work of a Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish as a political inspiration, you know he’s a made man.
Except that, and in the Arab world,Darwish, who died at the age of 67 in 2008, and needs no magic boost: long regarded as Palestine’s national poet,he has given voice to suffering with poems such as Identity Card (Write down! / I am an Arab / And my identity card number is fifty thousand / I have eight children / And the ninth will arrive after a summer / Will you be furious?) and Under Seige (Here on the slopes of hills, facing the dusk and the cannon of time / Close to the gardens of broken shadows, or / We finish what prisoners finish,/ And what the jobless finish: / We cultivate hope). Related: JK Rowling explains refusal to join cultural boycott of Israel Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com