Born in Babylon1981, Maythem Alharbi acquired his Masters degree in modern Arabic Literature from the University of Baghdad, he published his first collection (innocence of rain) in 2009 and his second (I cry of pain and dogs echo my bark) 2011. in critics he has a manuscript entitled ( critical conduct towards poetic forms in Iraq 1948-1991). He has wide participations in local and international events. recently representing the Iraqi House of Poetry as its SG where he set his unique prints on the map of cultural events in Iraq.
the poverty line and the music of creation
Under the line of poverty
lie
my unique stories
the view of a lovely sunset
naked winters
and those gliding kites
I was born and raised
under the wing of the garbage of the rich
sometimes
they are kind hearted
they don't finish their fish
I share it with my cats, dogs, and countless ailments
Since I am the only speaking animal amongst them
I'm the home of springs of tears
artists picture me
poets recite me in verses
my names are written in pamphlets of human rights
the only thing they feel is pride
I feel like laughing till I cry
I'm the master of talking with statues of the immortal
in this world
they are my only solace
I walk on a land paved by oil and wars
at the same time, ascend to wisdom
distributing astonishment upon the horizon
and for the sake of every evening
I enter the night and walk far away
so I need not howl with pain at my window
along with my cats, dogs and countless ills
for the sake of the wind
my face becomes that of a dove
repeating my absence in the songs
they give the meaning to my flames
My mother's eyes will flood with pride
as she shows the poor the road
and the honour of my vanishing
isn't it so, that darkness is so weak
degraded by a gleam
who said that darkness was scary?
I'll show you how this candle I hold in my left
chews it up!
as I carry it looking for the corpse of time
when a war passed by from here
under the poverty line
I walk along with my dead sister
who will live forever on those streets
I keep chattering on in emptiness
kneeling on the garbage around me
wondering how painful it is
to accompany the lost heroes of my stories
POEM BY: MAYTHEM ALHARBI
TRANSLATED BY: AMAL IBRAHIM
REVISED BY: GEORGE SZIRTES
RSS Feed