Sometimes I feel as if I am read before I write. When I write a poem about my mother, Palestinians think my mother is a symbol for Palestine. But I write as a poet, and my mother is my mother. She's not a symbol.

I want to find a language that transforms language itself into steel for the spirit--a language to use against these sparkling insects, these jets.

I am from there. I am from here. I am not there and I am not here. I have two names, which meet and part, and I have two languages. I forget which of them I dream in.

... For me it is essential, essential for the poet to have a new toast, new songs.

I've built my homeland, I've even founded my state - in my language.

We are captives of what we love, what we desire, and what we are.

The Palestinians are the only nation in the world that feels with certainty that today is better than what the days ahead will hold. Tomorrow always heralds a worse situation.