“The olive trees are still growing in Gaza”, the ode to hope by Ziad Medoukh
Deeply rooted in the ground, the majestic and robust olive trees of Gaza continue to produce their fruits each autumn. They remain bearers of peace and hope, despite Israel’s determination to ravage the land on which they stand, grow and flourish.
Two months have passed since a torrential rain of Israeli bombs fell again on the Palestinian enclave, in this fatal month of May 2023, destroying everything in its path, the vital sector of agriculture and the life innocent (more than 50 civilian casualties, including many women and children, more than 150 wounded and a hundred houses reduced to ruins).
Like invincible oaks, the olive trees of Gaza still and always resist the most appalling murderous offensives, and when harvest time comes, their fruits, far from becoming scarce, become more numerous and delicious. A happy omen that inspired the Palestinian academic Ziad Medoukh, poet and writer of French expression, spearhead of the citizens’ initiative “ Gaza, Life”, a magnificent poem that we have the pleasure of publishing ( read below) :
“Olive trees are still growing in Gaza.”
Read by Rwan Shawa, and illustrated by the beautiful photos taken in the olive groves of Gaza by Mohamed Madhoun, let yourself be carried away by this vibrant ode to hope, to life stronger than death, stronger than death. horror of colonization, only tears and mourning.
The text of the poem signed Ziad Medoukh
painful events,
repeated crimes,
protracted misfortunes,
Who enamel life
In this open-air prison.
In this forgotten enclave,
In this cage left to its fate.
Gaza with warm arms,
With generous fingers,
Gaza, the millennial city
Forget the last tears of his heart
The depths of his pain.
Think of life, not death.
Gaza, life still resists.
She forgets the fear
Violence, the dark years and the war
Overcome his wounds,
The injustice pursued, the massacres perpetrated,
The complicit silence, and just the look
Faced with the impunity of the aggressor,
Gaza, the pride of solidarity
Who carry with them the burden of hope
It exists by the flame of hope,
His extraordinary patience,
And his exemplary courage.
His resistance breaks down all the walls
Wait for better days
She constantly hopes,
With its olive trees still growing.
These olive trees with the smell of sun and moon
Point to the fragrant horizon
Are growing all over Gaza,
Near the rivers
Near the sea
under the plains
At the top of the hill
In the mixed depths of his age
With reflections of gold and shade.
Our olive trees caress sands and stones
They touch souls and hearts
Are a melody for the legendary song
Of a migratory bird
They always give fruit, oil and victory
Despite the atrocity of an aggressor occupier
living in darkness
Who uproots these olive trees every day,
Even in the middle of a dark night.
Yes, our olive trees are our hopes,
Our irreducible love!
They symbolize peace, justice, and future
Are planted with sweat
Of our long years of struggle
Cared for by our glorious history,
Watered with our bloods,
And harvested in our souls.
Our olive trees passionate about justice
Are our happy days
where all the dreams take shape
Where all hopes come true,
Where are all the promises written?
Our roots are as deep as our olive trees.
Between the humanism of the oppressed,
And the brutality of the oppressor,
The olive trees of the fertile land of Palestine
Resist with dignity.
They help us overcome despair,
In this abandoned town
steeped in history,
Of life, and of beautiful memories.
With our olive trees still growing in Gaza,
Planted and harvested
Generation after generation,
We are waiting for something real.
Really better days
For our future,
Something more beautiful!
Gaza opens its heart
With a struggle, with a smile
A dignity, a great love,
Lots of hope.
She perseveres in pure words.
Gaza, you will pursue your happiness
With your olive trees still growing!
