August 22, 2024

Poem

by Danez Smith

We are honored to publish Danez Smith’s “Poem,” published as part of Mizna 25.1: Catastrophe Issue. We would also like to extend a special congratulations to Danez Smith on the release of their poetry collection, Bluff—check it out here!

nature

i hear your prayer.
i see your terror. 
i know my teeth. 

— Danez Smith

Poem

I was born a Black woman and now

I am become a Palestinian

against the relentless laughter of evil

there is less and less living room

and where are my loved ones?


— June Jordan, “Moving towards Home” 

he calls them “the children of darkness” and being one myself— 
having been plucked from between stars, having been born again
in the dark, dark bellies of those ship, delivered as cargo 
onto the suffocating light of america—i find my kin. 

human animals he called them, and having been ape, been dog,
been mongrel, cattled and culled, i knew who was my brother. 

this late in empire, late meaning near its end not near its completion, 
let my language be clear and dangerous as water. 
let my mind’s tongue move sound, be exact 
with where venom is intended and where light sought.

animals. he called them animals.

Free Palestine
             said the birds
Free Palestine
             said the fish
Free Palestine
             said the mice
Free Palestine
             said the mountain lions
Free Palestine
             said the cattle
Free Palestine
             said the wolves
Free Palestine
             said the horses
Free Palestine
             said the bats 
Free Palestine
             said the elephants
Free Palestine
             said the deer
Free Palestine
             said the squirrels
Free Palestine
             said the bears
Free Palestine
             said the wildebeests
Free Palestine
             said the geckos 
Free Palestine
             said the snakes
Free Palestine
             said the dogs & cats 
Free Palestine
             said the bees
Free Palestine
             said the spiders
Free Palestine
             said the ants
Free Palestine
             said the rhinoceros 
Free Palestine
             the birds again

nature

i hear your prayer.
 see your terror. 
i know my teeth.

Danez Smith is the author of Don’t Call Us Dead, winner of the Forward Prize for Best Collection and a finalist for the National Book Award, and [insert] boy, winner of the Kate Tufts Discovery Award. Their latest collection, Bluff, is forthcoming with Graywolf. They live in Minneapolis.

Toward a Free Palestine: Resources to Learn About and Act for Palestine

We are proud to present this text as part of a list of resources to take action for and learn about Palestine, as well as works by Palestinian artists, writers, activists, and cultural workers.