To all the strangers, murdered on streets of blood and grudges of the cruel city — Wael
Like the sun light,
around the city,
did they spread the painful news
Murdered was the moon!
Hung, seen he was,
His head, on the trees, dangling
The bandits ripped the diamond necklace
Left him on the gibbets
Left him,
in the eyes of the blind,
like a dark legend
He was a saint. Why did they murder him?
Bewildered, says my neighbor
Grieving, says the young girl next door:
He liked my singing at night
Gifted me flasks of scent
For what sin do they murder him?
Did he upset them for listening to my singing, before dawn, at my window?
Shed, did the tears from the eyes
Like the orphans, children of the moon
Ask God for mercy, they did
Then dispersed
For just like anyone, he died!
Sit did I
Asking about the hands that betrayed him
Hear me, did he not
For he was dead
Cover him with his cloak
And saddle his eyes, did I
For he need not watch who abandoned him
To the village,
I crossed the gates of the city
O’ kin, your dad is dead
Murdered him the dwellers of the city
Shed the tears of the brothers of Joseph
And then dispersed
Abandoned him on the cruel streets of asphalt, blood and grudges
O’ kin, your dad is dead
Said my kin
What? No! Eternal is our dad
He was here all night yesterday, telling us his sad stories
O’ kin
with my own hands,
embraced him, did I
Saddled his eyelids for you to bury him
Said my kin,
Enough, shut up
You do not know what you are saying
I said, the truth is what I am saying
Said my kin,
Just wait
Only a few hours until he is back
Came did the evening
With gleaming smiles,
and a dazzling look,
Shine did the moon
O’ kin, your dad is still here!
Who is that lying on the streets of the cruel city?
They said,
A stranger
People of the city confused him with the moon
Murder him, did they
Wept and uttered: murdered was the moon
But, our dad is eternal
Forever, our dad is eternal
Wael AbdAlmageed
Pittsburgh, Nov. 27, 2022
Translating Amal 