Dana [Deen] Kafina

When you ask me about what it means to be free,

I will draw your attention to our beloved olive tree:

look, love, at its roots, sturdy and

strong, how its branches intertwine, with its

blessed crop nourishing us every harvest.

This olive tree — the one that prays to God —

no, it does not speak, but look, closely, at
the way its branches are generous:
bending down, gently, so careful hands relieve

it of its weight, feeding us and our rest.

This is a simple poem, you might tell me. I know
it is a simple poem. You know it is simple to be free.

This steadfast olive tree outlives what they call

“complexity”. Here — what our tree tries to stress:

the bump of skin touching skin and the shade from

her leaves. Us, shouldertoshoulder.
You know what it means to be free.

---

Dana (Deen) Kafina is a Palestinian community organiser in the climate and intersectional space, facilitating and participating in collective learning and revolutionary love living on Dharug Country and organising across unceded Dharug and Gadigal Country. Instagram: @honeyb4t and @khuf4sh for creative works

Alt Text: Olive branches with a few olives reach across a yellow sky.