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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| From the road |
|---|
| amatullah |
| 11/28/03 at 10:00:28 |
| From the Road He swears at me and I at him With no previous knowledge we curse one another Then when we are introduced he offers his hand gently, respectfully and we shake hands A nice fellow We embrace and kiss This is my bother It is is the way I feel and I regard him accordingly But when did it happen? When? Yesterday I told him I forgave him But when did we become enemies? When did we meet? Here we are shaking hands as if he were my real bother my real friend I wish I had had the same tongue when I cursed him I wish to God I could understand him well enough to say Was there ever a problem between us? Once my mouth condemned you bother I feel like a criminal because I slandered you whom I did not understand But I've heard that you, brother, also slandered me shredded my honour trampled my name without knowing a thing about me Should I say in case you are looking for a problem you and I are the problem? But my heart hesitates even my hand withdraws I want to be kindly, utterly candid, to have this out in the open But where is my courage for insult? Where is my courage for sincere generosity? I don't really know him He might feel ashamed if I were honest or shun my insolence then turn around to slander me again and I him What has happened? Why this muteness in my tongue? How easily it cured yesterday! I catch my breath as if waiting for something I cough to break the silence and our awful meeting is over our nerves frayed We go our ways the same as we did before we met separate paths We wander days and seasons shovelling dirt cursing clouds and stars looking for a name to bad-mouth or burn Our tongues are poised spears insatiable tireless inventing new curses without reason or cause I wish I were a pair of scissors travelling among my brothers shearing off any tongue that talks behind backs or dances over someone else's bones I'd clip I out from the root to prevent its lengthening and that would be my happiest day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Muhammad al Sharuafi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Translated by Sargon Bouus and Naomi Shihab Nye |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |