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Translation
Khuttar/the unexpected guest
joy might visit us unexpectedly... hang the lit candles
it might pass through this way... spray the way with tears
oh, my heart, where is sorrow...i hid it away from the joy's path (the heart answers)
you always whine...you wail with tears of a distressed (the heart talking)
your shadow is a mere lying hope... above the heavens lifted (the prisoner)
be careful to not cry with sorrow... the sound of sorrow is heard (his heart speaking)
joy might visit us unexpectedly... hang the lit candles
even your prison-guard at night got angry... be careful not to wake up at night
burying the glimpse of hope...do not let the star Canopus sleep
(the heart tells him to welcome joy in silence and with the star light)
and the train has passed and is gone...the train is none of your business
(the heart tells him that time has passed him, and the prisoner responded it's not of your concern)
put a bonfire of burning coal...increase the blaze of longing and grief
melt all the candles until they go out... put more of all the cardamom in the coffee
(the prisoner asks his heart to put all the candles and cardamom he has for the guest 'joy')
do this so the time does not steal my life away from joy...for time is quick
joy might visit us unexpectedly... hang the lit candles
gather the years of my life... the unjust night has scattered it all over
has spread it out on the hills... and given it the shape of clouds
(the years of his life has gone and wasted like they have been evaporated like clouds)
you are sad your life has shriveled up...and the rain had no pity over you
and summer came over you heavily...you are still in your place and you can't move
the shadow of your dreams passed you by... would you tell it what a shame that it did not stop by
you have dried the rivers of hope... and I'm waiting for my soul to die
(his heart is asking him whether he dares to ask joy this)
joy might visit us unexpectedly... hang the lit candles
in my tears, your shadow has drowned...i wipe the tears of the shadow
what should i wipe, the time has passed me...Alas, the dream is gone
(the prisoner does not know whether he should wipe his tears or the tears of his heart and wonders if he has the time for it)
we are in a full moon night that has no end...why, aren't we in summer?
i see darkness and sadness... don't think i like this night
(the nights of summer are short so the prisoner wonders if darkness and sadness is all he sees then it might not be summer night)
the joy has left us...hi welcome the guest is here
(he means that joy has come over and is gone too soon, like he just said hi to it)
i thought i had the right to reproach him (joy)... but it appears the reproaching is forbidden
joy might visit us unexpectedly... hang the lit candles
whoami✕
Ilham Al-Madfai: Top 3
| 1. | خطار (khuttar) |
| 2. | بغداد (Baghdad) |
| 3. | اشقر بشامه (Ashgar Ab Shama) |
Idioms from "خطار"
| 1. | None of your business |
Comments
Danaharab Russia is waging a disgraceful war on Ukraine. Stand With Ukraine!
About translator
occasion: the poet wrote this poem while he was in prison for a long period of time in Iraq.
it is a conversation between the poet, his heart, and joy.