The Desire of a War Child: A Systematic Literature Review of Mahmoud Darwish's Poem "Ila Ummi"

Abstract

This systematic literature review examines existing scholarship on Mahmoud Darwish's poem "Ila Ummi" (To My Mother), a poignant expression of a war child's longing for maternal affection, childhood innocence, and the symbolic homeland of Palestine. Drawing from 10 selected articles published in national and international journals, the study synthesizes analyses employing semiotic approaches, semantic interpretation, stylistic examination, and thematic exploration of nationalism and resistance. Key findings reveal that the word "mother" carries dual significance: a literal reference to the poet's biological mother and a powerful metaphor for Palestine as the nurturing birthplace stripped away by conflict and exile. The poem, written in 1965 during Darwish's imprisonment, conveys profound sadness, nostalgia, and grief, amplified by intertextual echoes (e.g., from Abdullah Al-Baradouni's work) and figurative devices such as personification, metaphor, and symbolism (e.g., bread, coffee, olive trees, and birds representing Palestinian youth and homeland). These elements transform personal yearning into a collective call for resistance against colonial occupation, embodying Darwish's role as a voice of Palestinian identity and Adab al-Muqawamah (literature of resistance). The review underscores the poem's enduring relevance in depicting how war deprives children of joyful pasts, replacing them with aspirations for return and liberation. Implications highlight the need for further interdisciplinary studies that integrate cultural, political, and psychological dimensions to deepen the understanding of Darwish's contributions to postcolonial and exile literature.