OTHER TONGUE

Thirty Years

2008-08-28T10:49:00.006+03:00

Thirty years.
Is that the name
of a river?
Of whose origin I cant find,
no matter how far I raft.
Of the one that
does not fall into the ocean,
no matter how far it swam.
Of the one that
makes its presence,
though it doesnt exist.
Of the one that doesnt exist,
even if it is there.
Of a wet dream?

Thirty years;
Is that the name
of a boat?
Of the one that floats always,
even in the deepest currents,
For its inside is hollow.
Of the one whose fate is to be afloat,
even in the darkest currents.
Of the one who wants
to turn upside down,
And lament a heart broken cry.
Of a vanity?

Thirty years;
Is that the name
of a tree?
Of the one which doesn't know
the branches, the leaves
and the buds it bears.
Of the one which clenches,
with its tearful roots,
to the sands that drain away.
Of a rheumatism?

Thirty years;anyway,
Would that be the name of a life?
Of a street fight,
which started because it was born;
and continued because it didnt die?

Thirty years - oh god,
What rabits are they!
Of which magicians hat?

*Translated by Simy Nazareth

Scientist

2008-08-28T10:49:00.005+03:00

Woman,
I first thought you were my mother.
But when I knew
what I felt for mother
was not what mother felt for father.
then I thought
you were my nanny
who tricked me from my fathers bedroom
in the pretext of stories

when I knew
nanny wouldnt play with me in mud,
no matter how much I compelled her,
Then I felt
you were my ally from the next alley

And I thought
you were that sex condensed in my fingertip
when I knew
marriage mattered more to juliet
than romeo

Then I felt
you were my wife whom, I worshiped
to the freedom of a locked bedroom
when the flags of revolution were
lowered from my thoughts

and then, in my quest for knowing you;
in my heroisms - you gave birth

woman,
my fate became
that of the one who tasted cianide -
just to know it's taste.

*Translated by Simy Nazareth

The Duramen

2008-08-28T10:47:00.001+03:00

The duramen,
It's been inside for sometime;
A surge from my inside.
A force, a strength
which can bend even nails

And I can't feel anymore
those moist rays from the wet eyes
when they touch me, like before.

And the narrow streams of blood
cant angle to my heart anymore

Now, I dont see those cookoos
when they mate in the branches
and I dont see those kites
when they interwine

Earlier, though I withered
In even the mellowed sunshine
I always knew first
When the spring came

And yes, its been there for sometime.
A heave.
From inside to out.

Like an ocean, turned cast iron.
Like a dream, turned rock.

Earlier, though I stooped,
when someone leaned on me
I used to know,
the warmth of love in my shoulders

Now, all that I know is -
that there is something inside me.

A strength,
A force.

*Translated by Simy Nazareth
And I heard someone say
let him go on a bit more,
let him grow up a bit more

Feathery seed

2008-08-28T10:35:00.003+03:00

Mother should have known my future
While delivering me,

That in this earth,
Where the roots of trees weave mighty nets,
an ounce of land, it's hard for me.
And maybe that's why, she gave
to this miniscule body,
an abundance of wings.

I'm flying away,
across the lands;
past the oceans
through the ages
that hold our memories
and make them rain

Fly around,
through a breeze,
across the tempests
till the skys are there
and till the land
would kiss your feet!
And that was my mother's blessing.

*Translated by Simy Nazareth