“Riding Away” Dale Innis on Midjourney AI Art
Please Press Play to hear my interpretation(with my own music) of this amazing poem!!
A little short background on this poem. I was reading Tracy Abell’s Blog and I came across this post, Day 261: it’s all connected, we’re all connected
I read this poem and wow!…I just felt so much, so quickly..all I could do was sigh and stay mute.
I knew I wanted to record it. I hope InshAllah, I have done it justice.
Below the poem, I will tell you a bit more about this prolific and internationally honored Palestinian poet.
The Prison Cell
by Mahmoud Darwish
(Translated by Ben Bennani)
It is possible . . .
It is possible at least sometimes . . .
It is possible especially now
To ride a horse
Inside a prison cell
And run away . . .
It is possible for prison walls
To disappear,
For the cell to become a distant land
Without frontiers:
What did you do with the walls?
I gave them back to the rocks.
And what did you do with the ceiling?
I turned it into a saddle.
And your chain?
I turned it into a pencil.
The prison guard got angry.
He put an end to the dialogue.
He said he didn’t care for poetry,
And bolted the door of my cell.
He came back to see me
In the morning.
He shouted at me:
Where did all this water come from?
I brought it from the Nile.
And the trees?
From the orchards of Damascus.
And the music?
From my heartbeat.
The prison guard got mad.
He put an end to my dialogue.
He said he didn’t like my poetry,
And bolted the door of my cell.
But he returned in the evening:
Where did this moon come from?
From the nights of Baghdad.
And the wine?
From the vineyards of Algiers.
And this freedom?
From the chain you tied me with last night.
The prison guard grew so sad . . .
He begged me to give him back
His freedom.
—-
Footnote about the author:
Mahmoud Darwish (Arabic: مَحمُود دَرْوِيْش, romanized: Maḥmūd Darwīsh; 13 March 1941 – 9 August 2008) was a Palestinian poet and author who was regarded as Palestine’s national poet.[1]
In 1988, Darwish wrote the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, which was the formal declaration for the creation of a State of Palestine. Darwish won numerous awards for his works. In his poetic works, Darwish explored Palestine as a metaphor for the loss of Eden, birth and resurrection, and the anguish of dispossession and exile.[2][3] He has been described as incarnating and reflecting “the tradition of the political poet in Islam, the man of action whose action is poetry.”[4] He also served as an editor for several literary magazines in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Darwish wrote in Arabic, and also spoke English, French, and Hebrew.
Digital Rabbit Hole 
Wow, very moving and also very interesting. You ready the poem so well… and the soundtrack is somehow perfect for the words.
“It is possible for prison walls
To disappear,
For the cell to become a distant land
Without frontiers”
Deep and true stuff! May prison walls disappear around the world…
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Tienes toda la razón. Es un poema potente que te hace pensar como podemos transformar una situación adversa en nuestra vida en slgo positivo con solo la imaginación. En la grabación, me quedo con tu voz y tu música. Una creación de la mas adecuada para acentuar la poesía. Que bien que encontraste este joya de poema para lucirte en su interpretación.
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Sí Manuel…la potencía de este poema,casi me saca de los pies!! Como me alegro que cree que mi manera de intepretarlo era agradable y digno.
Como le dije a Linda, La libertad está en la mente o imaginación de uno mismo. Este poema refleja el concepto brillantamente!! Muchas gracias por escuchar y dejarme tu hermoso comentario.:)🙏
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Por nada Solo expreso mi sentir al leerte y leerte y escuchar tu vos y tu música, es un gran placer para mí.
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Soul-touching!
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Thank you Linda…Yes! Isn’t it? This poem moves me beyond myself..Freedom is in the mind of the beholder.. Thank you so much for commenting:)
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Oh, Karima. You managed to make The Prison Cell an even more powerful, impactful poem. Simply beautiful. Well done, you!
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My pleasure Tracy and I am thrilled you enjoy my interpretation. I felt a great responsibility, to honor him. Thank you again for introducing me to him..to this poem. In some ways he reminds me of Pablo Neruda, but his own themes, his Palestinian soul!! I just bought one of his books on Amazon:) He is truly a gift!
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It makes me so very happy, Karima, that his work resonates with you like that. Thank you for letting me know.
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This, I believe, is one of the best poems ever written. It truly describes how the mind and spirit are greater than any physical prison. I am familiar with his poetry, but I have not read this one before. Thanks for sharing!
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Oh Dawn, I totally agree with you..It’s so powerful, wise, full of magical realism, that strikes just the right chord.. My pleasure sharing it, and glad you enjoyed reading it/listening:)
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This is a beautiful poem and so beautifully rendered Karima! Thank you for sharing
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Thank you Sadje…I am glad you think I did a good job turning it into a spoken word. I felt a big responsibility to do that:) I appreciate your comment.
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You’re most welcome 🙏🏼
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This tale was so amazing dear Karima. I will listen to again.
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Thank you John..yes this poem just knocked me off my feet. I am happy you enjoyed my spoken word version. Thank you again my friend, for reposting it too. Hope it’s not too hot in Michigan!
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A beautiful poem and soulful, Karima, and you have rendered it well. Thank you for introducing this great poet and his poetry!
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Oh Kaushal, it is my pleasure to share him with my readers. This type of poetry can be so powerful and he does it so well. I am also glad you enjoyed my spoken word version, Thank you so much for stopping by.
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My pleasure! You’re welcome!
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Wow, Karima. This was outstanding with such beautiful lessons of life and freedom captured in every line.Congratulations❣️
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Cinematic! Your story in words are uniquely entertaining and will compliment a stage play. 👏
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Thank you but this is not my poem(story) I juyst recorded a spoken word version of it.
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🥂My pleasure!
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Such an amazing poem! You gave this a lot of flair with your personal originality.
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♥️🧡💚 💓💖💯
Blessed and Happy afternoon 🌞
Greetings pk 🌎🇪🇸
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Tears in my eyes as I heard this poem. Very touching . Thank.you
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Thank you so much. It is a very moving poem by Mahmoud Darwish,,,I just tried to do it justice.
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