The Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, was a man beloved by his people. Considered by some to be "the spirit of the Palestinian nation", many considered him to the be the conscience of the nation. As staunch of a critic as he was of the occupation, he also strongly criticized Palestinian infighting, sharply reproaching the leadership of both Hamas and Fatah for diving the Palestinian people. He loved his country, and that love was clearly returned. Not only by Palestinians, but by readers all over the world. Poet Naomi Shihab Nye describes Darwish as:
"The Essential Breath of the Palestinian people, the eloquent witness of exile and belonging, exquisitely tuned singer of images that invoke, link and shine a brilliant light into the whole world's heart. What he speaks has been embraced by readers around the world-his is an utterly necessary voice, unforgettable once discovered."
Darwish has passed from this world, but his voice will live on. For he represents not only the national, painful memory of Palestinians, but also their hope for a future state, rich with their culture. This is something that can not die, not even with a figure like Darwish. In fact, he put it best:
"We suffer from the incurable malady: hope" -Mahmoud Darwish, 1941-2008
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