If
Obama e-mailed the Arab world, what would he say?
Al Wahdawi,
Yemen
A Poem from Arabic: E-Mail
Message from Obama … to
All Arab Peoples and Rulers
By Ahmed Matar, Poet
Translated By Jenny Oliver and Nicolas Dagher
December
1, 2008
Yemen
- Al Wahdawi - Original Article (Arabic)
From Obama ...
To All the Arab
peoples and rulers
Rapping with your
pans on my door
Making excessive
demands of me and driving me crazy
(Hey Obama, do
this ...
Hey Obama, leave
this ...
Bath us in
cool temperatures and peace
Hey Obama
Spare a belt for
the naked!
Hey Obama.
Provide a cup for
the baths!
[Turkish-style baths popular in the Middle East]
Hey Obama
Tailor pajamas
for the ants!
Hey Obama ...)
The cracking
sound of chewing on dreams
And the echoes of
vomited illusions
And the frenzy of
the clamor around me
Doesn't die down
and even grows
I'm a man with
many concerns
More than your
leisure time allows you to consider
And longer than
the rule of your majesties
So allow me to
warn you from the outset
In order to have
an excuse at the end
I'm not a servant
of those who bore you
[Slavery existed in many Arab
lands until recently].
To be whipped
sitting and standing
I'm not your
brother to be ridiculed
Because we aren’t
from the same womb.
I'm not your
father to be asked
To take
responsibility for you.
Your Arabism
didn't choose me
And I didn't
choose Islam!
So allow another
to adopt you
Or remain forever
as orphans!
I'm an example of
a people who refuse
To be governed or
ruled by force ...
And of a system
respectful of its citizens
It's for them and
not any others
That I will
melodiously let my heart flow
Even if my melody
falls
Upon your ears ...
as explosions!
So listen up ...
regimes and peoples
And take me as an
inspiration
But if you wish
to remain
As sheep in this
world
Begging for food
and security
Then I'll clarify
for you ... That I'm a man
Who at no stage
of my life
Planned on herding
sheep one day.
CLICK HERE FOR ARABIC
VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US December 11, 11:55pm]
