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WEDDING
In the winter of his years
on a chair beside the window.
Through the cracks
the snow creeps over his feet
buries them,
buries his waist and his neck,
and he doesn’t move.
He knows
he is late for the wedding,
for all weddings.
A SPARK
In his poem
a trembling spark.
It brushes his eyelashes,
stretches them to a horizon that recedes.
In a fog it disappearss
behind the dots, the commas, and the letters.
A GLANCE
Through the crack in the wound
he cleanses the sky.
From the sun’s rays
he weaves his cloak.
NIGHT OF THE WORLD
He casts his nets
into the caverns of whales
He raises the masts
lights the lanterns
and shatters apart
Into the night of the world.
A WISH
For the hungry
that his poem be
bread and oil.
For the thirsty
cool streams.
For the wandering
home and lantern.
For life
that it be lilies and dew,
that it be harvest.
WANDERER
Wanderer,
all his travels
are in one direction.
SEA’S HAZE
Towards the shrines
for so many years
he tramples thorns and reeds.
Beneath icy stars
he lifts his head from the rocks,
he sees the mountains.
He knows the lakes are beyond
and beyond the lakes
the sea’s haze.
EDGE
At the edge of existence
forever he stands,
a ticket in his pocket
He waits for the ship
and the signal flag.
YEAST
At earth’s limit
his feet, always.
Towards the other side
he extends bridges he doesn’t cross.
In the ferment of his limbs:
the waters of the fields
the fragrance of blossom’s
and sun’s flower.
In the rising leaven of his being
the ringing call of life to life.
OIL LAMP
Through the streambeds of darkness
through its cracks
a face always peers out,
approaches,
lights the oil lamp and whispers.
His hand in mine
we head for mountain chains
and the flower of dusk.
CLOUD
A white cloud.
He’s afraid.
Will it fall?
Will the wind swish it away?
In the unknown corners of this earth
It alone knows him
It alone closes his eyes
and shuts the door.
MORNING STAR
At night’s end
Towards the morning star
he lifts his gaze
It spends the night alone
lighting windows.
He spends the night alone
opening windows.
Two friends
the whole sky between them
ARROW
Out from earth’s darkness
an arrow tears forth
In the air it quivers
catches fire
turns to ashes
Between him and that arrow
an old friendship.
SURPRISE
A spring night
A moon round with health
Beneath a gladsome rock,
a stream murmursAnd yet
they ask him:
“What’s up with you?
Why don’t you speak?”
SADNESS
In his right hand, the sun ferments
In his left, the moon turns green
In his heart
the princess of love.
And oh, this sadness,
this dark-leafed sadness.
Why?
From where?
Translated by Paula and Adnan Haydar
From the collections ‘The Jar of the Samaritan’ and ‘Red Indian Poems’