AL-QASIM, Samih

End of a Talk with a Jailer

From the narrow window of my small cell,

I see trees that are smiling at me

and rooftops crowded with my family.

And windows weeping and praying for me.

From the narrow window of my small cell -

I can see your big cell!

/////////////////////////////////////


You men!

You women!

You sheiks and rabbis and cardinals!

And, you, nurses and textile workers!

You have waited so long

And the postman has not knocked on your door

Bringing you the letters you desire

You men!

You women!

Do not wait. Do not wait!

Take off your sleeping clothes

And write to yourselves

The letters you desire

The Wall Clock

My city collapsed

The wall clock remained

Our neighbourhood collapsed

The wall clock remained

The street collapsed

The wall clock remained

The square collapsed

The wall clock remained

My home collapsed

The wall clock remained

The wall collapsed

On went

The clock

Travel Tickets

The day I am killed,

my killer will find travel tickets

in my pocket

One, to peace

One, to fields and rain

And one,

to the conscience of humankind

I beg you,

Do not stay and waste them

Killer of mine,

I beg you to use them.

Travel.