courage (13) rachida lamrabet
In these troubled times, we asked a number of authors we admire what ‘courage’ means to them. In the coming weeks, you can read their answers here, in the form of a poem, a memory, an anecdote or a more philosophical reflection.
RESIST
Despite the fear
that sometimes buries me alive in my own bed
Despite the darkness charged with
an invisible threat
that sometimes leaves me breathless
at the thought of tomorrow
I will resist
With my body that is sore and tired
I will resist
The bitterness of not wanting to forgive
The voice that whispers
‘Don’t ever forget what they did to you’
I will resist
The voice that torments me
‘You’re so naive’
I will resist
When the voice speaks
in the language of hate
When it calls me to arm myself
‘Defend your land’
I will resist and I will change
I will resist and I will change
That is what will save us
That is what stands between us and catastrophe
between us and the plague
between us and the scorched earth
My own mind
My own heart
Translated from the Dutch by Patrick Lennon
Rachida Lamrabet (1970) is a Belgian writer who was born in Morocco. She has written novels, short stories and essays. Recent titles include De handen van Fatma (Fatma's Hands), Zwijg, allochtoon (Shut up, Stranger) and the novel Vertel het iemand (Tell Someone).