translation by Ayesha Saldanha
The Poet
He rejoices . . . Thirty rivers of silk and a forest of aquamarine belong to him
A desert belongs to him, when she spirals swiftly behind the wind and a
rebelling boxthorn
Water belongs to him, since a cloud—lightly—passed by . . . and the prairie
rejoiced
Poetry belongs to him, since rhymes were suspended over the spinning
wheel of black wool
He rejoices . . . Thirty broken mirrors and a thousand unfurled verses belong
to him.
Contributor’s notes: Abdallah Al Saikhan
Translator’s notes: Ayesha Saldanha
The Poet
Sword