ArabKidLitNow recommends Think of Others (فكر بغيرك), the text of Mahmoud Darwish’s classic poem, illustrated by award-winning artist Sahar Abdallah:
Awards: WINNER of 2018 Etisalat Prize for Arabic Children’s Literature, illustrations category
Author: Mahmoud Darwish
Illustrator: Sahar Abdallah
Publisher: Tanmia Books
Contact: info@arablit.org, info@saharabdallah.com
Buy in Arabic: Available on Jamalon
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This picture book brings together the moving and popular poem “Think of Others” by Mahmoud Darwish with charming illustrations by award-winning Egyptian-Canadian illustrator Sahar Abdallah.
There are a number of adequate translations of Darwish’s poem floating around online. This one is by Mohammed Shaheen, from Almond Blossoms and Beyond, published by Interlink Books in 2009. Certainly a fresh translation could be done for the picture book:
As you prepare your breakfast, think of others
(do not forget the pigeon’s food).
As you conduct your wars, think of others
(do not forget those who seek peace).
As you pay your water bill, think of others
(those who are nursed by clouds).
As you return home, to your home, think of others
(do not forget the people of the camps).
As you sleep and count the stars, think of others
(those who have nowhere to sleep).
As you liberate yourself in metaphor, think of others
(those who have lost the right to speak).
As you think of others far away, think of yourself
(say: “If only I were a candle in the dark”).
Tanmia also brought out another poem of Darwish’s with Abdallah’s illustrations, So Said the Neglected Tree:
Get rights in your language before they’re gone!
ArabKidLitNow! 