Do not reconcile
is a militant and intersectional journal rooted in social justice. Inspired by the spirit of Amal Dunqul’s words, this space is for those who refuse to settle, who see art and community not as escapes but as tools to confront and dismantle the systems that oppress us. This is a journal for those who believe that reconciliation without justice is betrayal.
Do Not Reconcile is a call to action: to question, to create, and to resist.
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لا تصالح | "Do not reconcile" by Amal Dunqul (translation by Shimaa Eid)
Do not reconcile
even if they give you gold
I wonder
if I were to gouge out your eyes
and replace them with two gems
would you see?
These things are priceless.
(…)
Do not reconcile
even if they bestow leadership upon you.
How can you step over the corpse of your father's son?
How can you become king with such phony joy?
How can you look at the hands of those who are
shaking your hands, and not see blood on them?
(…)
Do not reconcile
even if those who retreated during the fighting said,
'We don't have the energy to wield our swords'
when the truth fills your heart
you will breathe fire
and the tongue of betrayal will be silent.
(…)
Do not reconcile
even if your tribe calls upon you
to be deceptive and show acceptance to those who came to you.
Your tribe will say
'You're asking for vengeance
that is quite distant.
So take what you can right now.’
Let us be honest
in these few years
this is not your vengeance alone
its generations' after generations'
and tomorrow
there is one who will be born
who will wear full armor
who will kindle the fire fully
who will bring about truth
from ruptures in the impossible.
(…)
Do not reconcile
until existence returns to its moving cycle
the stars to orbit
the birds to their song
the sands to their grain
and the martyr to his awaiting daughter.
(…)
Do not reconcile
for reconciliation is nothing but a treaty
between two equals
(by the honor of their hearts)
otherwise it cannot be true
the one who assassinated me was just a thief
who stole my land right in front of my eyes
as the silence was sarcastically laughing!
(…)
Do not reconcile
even if all the sheiks stand against your sword
along with the men with no integrity
and those whose turbans dangle over their eyes
and their Arabic swords have forgotten the years of glory.
Do not reconcile
for there should be nothing but what you want
you are the only knight of this time
and the rest are 'Musookh'.
Do not reconcile.
Do not reconcile.