Hind Joudeh
Hind Joudeh is a Palestinian poet living in Gaza.
Joudah was born in 1983 in al-Bureij refugee camp in Gaza.
She writes poetry and short stories, is published on various websites, and has participated in several cultural events. The Palestinian poet has written scripts for several documentaries and done voice overs. She has also worked in radio production, and with Workers Radio in Gaza. She produced and presented a show called Good Morning, Homeland for Radio Al-Hurriya in Gaza.
She won the Appreciation Prize by the Youth Ideas Association for her short story, and the Golden Prize at the Arab Youth Gathering Festival in Cairo. Her first collection of poetry, entitled Nobody Always Leaves was published by Mosaique House in Amman. She is currently the editor-in-chief of Magazine 28 in Gaza.
performance by Hind Joudeh (poems in Arabic) with Soukaina Habiballah (poems in English) and the Choeur tac-til (sound environment), lightning Zouheir Atbane, direction Henri jules Julien
What does it mean to be a poet in wartime?
It means to apologize
To abound in apologies
For burnt trees
For birds without nests
For pulverized houses
For the long cracks in the sides of the streets
For the pale children before and after death
And the face of every mother sad
Or killed
What does it mean to be safe in wartime
It means to be ashamed
Of your smile
Of your warmth
Of your clean clothes
Of your off-peak hours
Of your yawn
From your cup of coffee
Of your peaceful sleep
Of your living loved ones
Of your satiety
Of water available
Of drinking water
Of the possibility of a shower
Of the chance of being alive
Oh my God
I don't want to be a poet in wartime