Mahmoud Darwish, a Palestinian from the Galilee, is one of the most important Arabic poets. He has published more than thirty books of poetry and prose, and is the editor of the international al-Karmel magazine in Ramallah. Among the numerous international honors are the French medal for Arts and Letters, the Lannan for Cultural Freedom, and the prestigious Prins Claus from Holland. His most recent poetry is collected in English in The Butterfly's Burden (2006),from Copper Canyon Press.