Homeland

Mahmoud Darwish, a Palestinian poet and political figure, lived during a time of great upheaval that divided Palestine between Israel and neighboring Arab countries, exiling many Palestinians during a time of war. Darwish and his family were among the exiled, forced off of their land and into barely habitable areas. He wrote Identity Card as a means to outline the life that he and his family were forced to leave behind by people that are not that much different from him. The poem serves as a warning-- patience can only go so far. 

There are many ways in which Darwish discusses his heritage. In lines 35 through 41, he describes his physical appearance, which is not unlike the appearance of the guard that the narrator of the poem is speaking to: "I am an Arab./Colour of hair: jet black./Colour of eyes: brown./ My distinguishing features: On my head the 'iqal cords over a keffryah/Scratching him who touches it." Further than physical appearance, though, he describes his Arabic roots, roots that he likely has in common with the guard standing between him and his mother land. His father and grandfather worked for everything they had. His home was hardly a mansion, but he was proud. Despite his identity being reduced to a number on a card, and despite his job being reduced to a quarry-worker that can hardly provide for his children, he is patient and pleased with who he is.

Darwish repeats quite often that he is Arab, and because of this, how could he be angry? Wherever his people are is where home can be. The love of his home and his heritage goes so deep, however, that he warns the guard (or the reader) that his patience will not last forever. When his hunger (both for food and for his natural homeland) becomes greater than his patience, he will be a force to be reckoned with. 

Mahmoud Darwish. “Identity Card” The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 3^rd ed.

       Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2013. 1607-1609. Print.