Quote by Mahmoud Darwish: “A poet must be a storyteller.”

This idea suggests poets don't just use beautiful words but also bear the crucial responsibility to narrate experiences, history, and the truths of their people. They serve as witnesses, giving voice to often untold stories and memories.

Following the First Gulf War and amidst ongoing geopolitical shifts in the Middle East, Darwish continued to emphasize the crucial role of artists in preserving and sharing collective memory and narratives, especially for displaced communities.

Palestinian poet widely regarded as the national poet of Palestine, whose writing explored exile, identity, and longing with lyrical intensity. His 1984 collection The Earth is Closing on Us cemented his international reputation, and he served as a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's executive committee.