Mahmoud Darwish Poems on War: "The War Will End"

Mahmoud Darwish, one of the most influential Palestinian poets of the 20th century, is renowned for his emotionally charged poetry that speaks of exile, identity, resistance, and the human cost of war. Among his widely shared verses is the short, powerful poem “The War Will End” — a piece that has gained viral attention in recent years for its brutally honest yet deeply hopeful message. Though the poem’s origins are sometimes debated, its spirit undeniably echoes Darwish’s poetic legacy. In this article, we delve into the meaning, tone, and continued relevance of this iconic piece.

The Poem:

" The war will end.

The leaders will shake hands.

The old woman will keep waiting for her martyred son.

That girl will wait for her beloved husband.

And those children will wait for their heroic father.

I don’t know who sold our homeland

But I saw who paid the price."

Analyzing the Poem

At just seven lines, The War Will End captures the essence of conflict not through grand political declarations but through the eyes of those who suffer most — civilians. The poem's brilliance lies in its simplicity. With minimal words, Darwish moves the reader through the aftermath of war, portraying scenes of waiting, mourning, and unresolved grief.

The opening lines — “The war will end. / The leaders will shake hands.” — are starkly ironic. They suggest that war, however brutal, is finite. Leaders, those who often make decisions from a distance, will eventually agree to peace. But peace, in this case, does not mean healing. The emotional aftermath, especially for families of the fallen, is ongoing.

Darwish then presents three different perspectives:

• The old woman, whose son is gone.
• The young girl, likely a new bride, mourning a future stolen.
• The children, waiting for a father who will never return.

These archetypes represent generations of suffering. They embody the cost of war, not in abstract numbers, but in broken families.

The final lines — “I don’t know who sold our homeland / But I saw who paid the price.” — are especially poignant. Darwish acknowledges a lack of clarity about political deals and betrayals, but he is crystal clear about the human toll. The poem ends not with answers, but with a powerful indictment: the people always bear the weight of decisions made by those in power.

Themes and Impact

This poem expresses themes central to Darwish’s work:

War and Peace: Peace comes too late for many.

Grief and Waiting: The emotional wounds linger beyond political treaties.

Betrayal and Injustice: There’s a deep sense of moral outrage over the loss of land, home, and loved ones.

Witnessing and Memory: Darwish, like many poets, acts as a witness — someone who records the truth that others try to forget or bury.

The poem resonates across conflicts — whether in Palestine, Syria, Ukraine, or elsewhere. It has been translated and circulated widely online, especially in times of war, and often attributed to Darwish, even if some scholars debate whether he actually wrote it. Still, it bears all the hallmarks of his voice: lyrical sorrow, political consciousness, and emotional depth.

Conclusion

“The War Will End” stands as a timeless reminder of the human cost of conflict. Whether or not it can be definitively attributed to Mahmoud Darwish, it reflects the themes he spent his life exploring. In its brevity, it delivers a lasting emotional impact — a call to remember not just who makes war, but who suffers from it most. Through poetry, Darwish gives voice to the silenced, and even in the face of war, he offers hope that those voices will not be forgotten.