Dr. Refaat Alareer

From @haymarketbooks
Poet, writer, scholar Dr. Refaat Alareer was killed with his family this week in Palestine. Attendees at his vigil in Chicago flew kites and recited his poem "If I must die"

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