The kite is a significant memory of my childhood living in occupied Palestine during the first Intifada, where my uncles taught my siblings and I how to build and fly them. Kites brought us joy amidst the constant curfews, school closures, violent occupation, and fear of when the Zionist soldiers would force their way into our home next.  

Decades later, the kite has been a symbol of hope and resilience to the many Palestinian children that came after me. In 2011, children in Gaza set a Guinness World Record by flying over 12,000 kites simultaneously for over 30 seconds.  

As the kite hangs freely in the space, the hand reaches to hold the “string”, but not quite, representing the longing for freedom and liberation that every Palestinian hopes for. 

In honor of Refaat Alareer, I leave you with the poem, “If I Must Die,”  which reminds us to continue telling our story:  

If I must die, 

you must live 

to tell my story 

to sell my things 

to buy a piece of cloth 

and some strings, 

(make it white with a long tail) 

so that a child, somewhere in Gaza 

while looking heaven in the eye 

awaiting his dad who left in a blaze— 

and bid no one farewell 

not even to his flesh 

not even to himself— 

sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above 

and thinks for a moment an angel is there 

bringing back love 

If I must die 

let it bring hope 

let it be a tale

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