Think of Others by Mahmoud Darwish, illustrated by Vicco Sebes - Transcript

Page 1:

Title page that reads “Think of Others by Mahmoud Darwish.” Text is bordered by two olive trees, a bowl of watermelon, and a quarter of a watermelon on a cutting board. Beneath the cutting board is the text: “comic by Vicco.”

Page 2:

Purple text on a white background reading “‘Let this radicalize you rather than lead you to despair’ - Mariame Kaba”

Page 3:

Panel 1: “Think of Others by Mahmoud Darwish” with green and reddish pink triangles surrounding it.

Panel 2: A light-skinned person in a red t-shirt cuts into a quarter of a watermelon with a bowl of watermelon cubes next to them. “As you prepare your breakfast, think of others. (Do not forget the pigeon’s food).”

Panel 3: On a TV, we see a Black reporter, who looks incredulous, interview then President Biden. Biden says “There is no possibility of ceasefire” in a blue speech bubble. The poem continues in a white speech bubble: “As you conduct your wars.”

Panel 4: “Think of others.” A portrait of Bisan Owda. In a blue speech bubble she says, “Hi this is Bisan from Gaza, I’m still alive.”

Panel 5: “(Do not forget those who seek peace).” An aerial illustration of a march in DC. A long list of names can be seen even from such a high vantage point. The blue caption reads “Nov 4 March on DC: protestors carried a long list of more than 9,000 Palestinians murdered by Israel. The list has only grown since.”

Page 4:

Panel 1: “As you pay your water bill.” A POV shot of someone washing their hands.

Panel 2: “Think of Others.” A POV shot of Bisan holding a small bottle of water with not very much water inside. Her blue speech bubble says “It’s only 200ML.” The text “-Bisan” is at the bottom of the panel to indicate who is speaking.

Panel 3: “(those who are nursed by clouds).” Two women wearing hijabs plant an olive tree in a grove.

Panel 4: “As you return home, to your home.” A closeup shot of someone unlocking a door.

Panel 5: “Think of others.” A woman wearing a hijab holds an old-looking key. In the background, a giant statue of key stands with the painted letters “We will Return…” followed by that same phrase translated into Arabic.

Page 6: “(do not forget the people in the camps).” A young boy in a refugee camp in Gaza holds a cat. The caption reads “Photo by Motaz.”

Page 5:

Panel 1: A cat sleeps on a pillow by a window. “As you sleep and count the stars.”

Panel 2: “Think of others.” A man in a press jacket looks up at the camera. His speech bubble reads “I am Motaz.”

Panel 3: “(those who have nowhere to sleep).” The camera has zoomed out revealing Motaz to be very small amidst the destruction of a city. Motaz’s speech bubble reads: “And I will show you the massive destruction that happened to Al Zahra.”

Panel 4: “As you liberate yourselves in metaphor.” Hands paint a banner.

Panel 5: “Think of Others.” A collage of Palestinian freedom fighters: Aed Abu Amro, Leila Khaled, and Ahed Tamimi.

Panel 5: “(those who have lost the right to speak).” A portrait of a doctor with glasses. The blue speech bubble reads: “And if I go, who will treat my patients? -Dr Hammam Alloh”

Page 6:

Panel 1: “As you think of others far away.” Two protestors in safety jackets ride the train. One carries a sign that says “Queers for Palestine,” another carries a bike.

Panel 2: “Think of yourself.” A mother wearing a kufiya and child ride the train together. The woman’s sign says “Never again means never again for anyone” and the kid’s sign reads “Stop bombing kids.”

Panel 3: “(say)” A woman wearing a hijab and a man in a wheelchair ride the train together. The woman’s sign reads “Resistance is justified when people are occupied.”

Panel 4: The white bubbles that indicate the poem are now black with white text, reading: “(if only I) (were a candle in the dark).” A group of people march down the street towards the camera. The banner reads: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Page 7:

The march and the banner reading “From the River to the sea Palestine will be free!” is repeated on this page. Above text reads: “Featured in this comic: Bisan Ouda @wizard_bisan1, Motaz Azaiza @motaz_azaiza, Aed Abu Amro, Leila Khaled, Ahed Tamimi.”