Poetry: Tears for the Qureshi Falcon*

By Amal Donqol

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Hail, winged falcon,

Hail.

Did you wait long for the sun,

The sun that cleanses wounds by the water of lakes,

To play in the snow

To lie on the ground

To lie down?

Did you wait long for the sun... to feel happy

And block the horizon with wings flying eastwards?

***

Here you remain, crucified on banners, dishonoured.

The wind whistles, and your ribs, like a singing orchid,

Long for the sun that weaves a scarf for warmth.

***

Here you remain, crucified on banners, dishonoured.

- 'Quench my thirst.'

The soldiers raise a glass of blood that is still flowing.

- 'Quench my thirst.'

- There, the Prophet's drink:

Drink it sweet and plain;

Drink it like those who weep,

Like those marching in the anthem of armed poverty;

Drink

While lords standing by the gates of salted silence

Receive the wind,

Wrapping it in their coat tails,

Nailing its arms,

As you remain

Entangled in woven threads:

A golden button,

Swinging.

***

Foreigners stood by the gate of salted silence,

Raising weapons in their black arrogance,

Taking away the land: sacks of sand

And heaps of shadow,

All on the back of a staggering Arabian horse.

Taking away the land

To their tankers -- now -- anchored at the shore,

Though planning to sail,

Without blowing off the horse's head

With a merciful bullet,

Without granting any gratification.

***

Hail, winged falcon,

Hail.

One year has passed; another will soon approach,

But when will my death come?

* Translated by Mona Anis. The Quresh, or Quraysh, was a Meccan tribe at the time of the Prophet Muhammad into which the Prophet himself was born. The Qureshi falcon is the national emblem on the flag of Egypt.