parallel text/mazhun translated poem on a Palestinian

"If I must die" by Refaat Alareer

"Idan har sai na mutu" daga Refaat Alareer

If I must die,

you must live

to tell my story

to sell my things

to buy a piece of cloth

and some strings,

(make it white with a long tail)

so that a child, somewhere in Gaza

while looking heaven in the eye

awaiting his dad who left in a blaze-

and bid no one farewell

not even to his flesh

not even to himself-

sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above and thinks for a moment an angel is there

bringing back love

If I must die

let it bring hope

let it be a tale

Idan har sai na mutu,

to ka rayu,

don ka ba da labarina

ka sayar da karikitaina

don ka sayo dan kyalle

da 'yan zarurruka,

(ka yi shi fari mai doguwar jela)

don wani yaro, a wani lungu a Gaza

yayin da yake wa samaniya kallon kurilla

yana jiran babansa wanda ya kufce cikin batoyi-

kuma bai wa kowa bankwana ba

hatta tsokar jikinsa

har ma shi kansa-

zai ga firfilo, firfilona da ka kera, yana tashi sama

ya yi tsammani na dan lokaci cewa mala'ika ne

da zai dawo masa da kauna

Idan har sai na mutu

to hakan ya zama fata

ya zama abin labartawa