Translations
[suddenly my friend]
by Rania MamounTranslated from Arabic by Yasmine Seale
suddenly my friend
fell silent
and went
leaving open
before me the gate of doubt
why—
what—
why another—
no answer
in my next life I hope to be
an evergreen somewhere remote
my friends the earth
and birds and squirrels
sun wind stars
I would stay up with God
each night
by the moon’s glow
and we’d slip
between galaxies
unobstructed
by day I would extend
my shadow to a passerby
to lie down in and ease
the strain of being
and when he turns his back to go
I will not suffer pain
nor disappointment
I will not be afraid
of weightlessness
of floating in the void
not even
of the questions
no,
people will pass
and just as easily
move on
see,
when I am a tree
oh then,
there will be no risk
no room for doubt