Salman Masalha was born in the Arab town of Al-Maghar and is the author of six volumes of poetry. His articles, columns, poems, and translations have appeared in newspapers and journals in both Arabic and Hebrew as well as in European languages. He studied at the Hebrew University and holds a PhD in classical Arabic literature. He served as a coeditor of the Concordance of Early Arabic Poetry. He lives in Jerusalem.
Water is a widespread secret,
known only to the pure—
those who before the birth pangs
are born in glances, or
as though by chance, taking shape
in a chronic dream.
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