Translation of a Poem

There is something about war and violence that makes love ever brighter. I have no explanation, following is someting I jotted down in Arabic to reply to a post by Eve, and I have grown to like it, so I translated it.. just for the heck of it! During war,, people cuddle around, hugs are longer, kisses are warmer... the fear of loss makes every moment as good as a lifetime..

 

Arabic is a language of music and poetry. No translation would ever do an Arabic poem any favour.. Arabic to Arabs is a sacred language,  it is music, theatre, sculpture, colour, and painting altogether entwined.... It is for that reason perhaps that Arabs fail to make themselves understood (one of many reasons.. I should say)... 

 

 

        The nails of your body gather my ashes

        I... the Phoenix

        And I float in a sea of rain drops.. and scent

Your napkins I carry along.. like wine cask

..like Priest's incense, like empty bread baskets

 

Of the dust of your face I build a shrine for love… I sow grain

Of the light of your eyes I make a star in heaven

Of the scent of your hair I gasp to fill my lungs

I spread them napkins to make sails   

To cruise between droplets

To loose you, too seek you, to find you..

 

Wings of fallen angels carry me away of the eternal heaven

To the land of sin and land of love

I strike my stick and water bursts

.. birds come by and I steal you a tune…

I split the sea to fetch you a bouquet of pearl

… I take-off my past to make you a gown of memories

And return to you.. my queen

 

She says "I know you"

Because I know your words

I count your breaths

And I gather the fire of your rage to dry my wet hair

 

O Lady… I carry the spear and the dagger,

I lock the doors,

Raise the barriers,

Break the stones,

And stab the ground…

 

But inside, I am the Guardian of the Rose Garden..