Watch Brian Cox read “If I Must Die” by murdered Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer.
On December 7, the beloved Palestinian poet, writer, literature professor, and activist Refaat Alareer was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike that also killed his brother, his sister, and four of her children.
In the week of mourning since, tributes to Alareer’s life, writing, mentorship, and activism have flooded in from around the world. Many of those tributes have focused on Alareer’s final published poem, “If I Must Die,” which he pinned to his Twitter profile on November 1.
If I must die, let it be a tale. #FreePalestine #Gaza pic.twitter.com/ODPx3TiH1a
— Refaat in Gaza ?? (@itranslate123) November 1, 2023
Alareer’s heartbreakingly prophetic farewell poem has now been translated into more than 40 languages; it has been read aloud from stages and written on the subway walls; it has been printed onto banners and placards and flags and kites held aloft in ceasefire demonstrations around the world.
Yesterday, this video of the Scottish actor Brian Cox reciting “If I Must Die” went viral:
Brian Cox reads If I Must Die, by beloved Palestinian poet, teacher and martyr Refaat Alareer.
Refaat was killed on December 7th by an Israeli airstrike.
This was the last poem he published. pic.twitter.com/sMVocn3nGA
— Palestine Festival of Literature (@PalFest) December 12, 2023
Refaat may be gone, but his words, his advocacy, and his spirit very clearly live on.
As one commenter so eloquently put it:
“They tried to kill Refaat but ended up making him immortal.”
