From the orchards of Damascus, a few roots with a little earth still attached,
just enough to settle anew, pursuing the west.
Wandering roots, roaming, growing, expanding, multiplying and mixing
according to the places crossed, the cultures shared.
Multiple roots, wide open. Not buried.
That unfold on the surface, in full light.
Universal arborescence. Of water, arteries, nerves…vascular.
Par la pensée de l’errance nous refusons les racines uniques et qui tuent
autour d’elles :
la pensée de l’errance est celle des enracinements solidaires et des racines
en rhizome.(1)
My roots are not what restrains me but are part of me.
They add to my complexity and enable encounters, to be opened-minded.
The robust and fragile, tie me to my memories, real or imaginary.
They stretch and lead me.
Some detach themselves.
And so I walk, my roots under arm, with the mixed scent of almond and cherry.
From the orchards of Damascus…
wandering souls pursuing the west.
(1) Edouard Glissant in Plilosophy of Relation (ed. Gallimard-2009)
E. Glissant conceives identity as plural and not as a unique root killing everything around itself.
Rhizome is a multiple root which goes out and meets other roots. E. Glissant refers to the concept
of rhizome developped by G. Deleuze and F. Guattary in Mille plateaux.
*This French expression has no sens in English because it is aligned to an episode
of French history. The equivalent expression would be « something for nothing,
for peanuts. »