“If I Must Die”
by Dr. Refaat Al-Areer
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
I animated this poem to raise funds for surviving members of the Al-Areer family, pay tribute to the words of Palestinian martyr Dr. Refaat Al-Areer, and speak out against the horrors of Israel’s ongoing genocide, which has been funded and supported in large part by the United States with American tax dollars.
Screenings
Film and Animation Showcase: Global Fundraiser for Gaza
Manchester, United Kingdom, September 2025
Syracuse University Faculty Survey
VPA Warehouse Gallery Exhibition, February 2025