From the Archive

Poetry in mind: The Musical Peace

The Musical Peace

I see before me, virtually next to me
The creation of harmony.
I see and hear this creation rising
From the music making
Of the orchestra. 
From the conductor’s reincarnation
Into the music world
Can music be the food of international
Understanding?
A sensational Jewish musician with a distinguished
Palestinian intellectual
Barenboim and Said
brought young Israeli and Arab musicians together
Into the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra*
I feel reincarnation 
From all his passionate expression.
Can music be the food of international
Understanding?
I watch again and again their performance of 
Tchaikovsky’s romantic violin concerto 
What ecstatic and enthusiastic expression
Of pure intimate emotion. 
Exaltation.

How I wish I could ask
You Israeli and Arab politicians
Why you can’t create a spirit of harmony
Like these young musicians?

* Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said


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