To those who stood by, defying devastation, refusing to flee, The People were their refuge, and ended up with their scarred hearts lying peacefully on the rubble, for they have said no, and loved the motherland.— Wael
Here comes the Flood of Noah Bit by bit, drowning is the city Birds flee The water rises On the stairs of houses The stores The post office The banks The statues — our eternal ancestors — Places of worship Sacks of wheat Hospitals Gates of the prison The King’s palace Halls of stronghold barracks
The birds flee bit by bit Geese floating on the water Floats the furniture And the child’s toy
Gasps of grieving mothers Young women waving on rooftops
Here comes the Flood of Noah Here are the elite fleeing to the Ark The entertainers The groomer of the Prince’s horses The misers The chief justice (and his servant) The guards The temple’s dancer (I smiled when she took off her wig) Debt collectors Arms dealers The Princess’ lover — with his charming feminine features —
Here comes the Flood of Noah Here are the cowards fleeing to the ark While I was, — were also the youth of the city — Bridling the wild horse of the water Carrying water on their shoulders Racing time Erecting dams of stones Perhaps they rescue the birthplace of childhood and civilization Perhaps, they rescue the motherland
Before the imminent silence, yelled at me the shipmaster Rescue yourself from a soulless city Say, did I Bless those who — in the good times — ate its bread And turned their back — in the day of calamities — And glory is to us We, who stood by (while God blurred our names) Defying devastation Our refuge, a mountain that does not die They call The People Refusing to flee Refusing to migrate
And there it was my heart — woven by the scars — my heart — damned by the books — Lying on the rubble of the city Like a rotten rose — But peaceful — For my heart had said no to the ark And loved the motherland
Translating Amal 