My Days and My Nights -- Translation From My Arabic Poem
This is a lousy translation of my just-as-lousy first attempt at writing poems in Arabic. I've only been learning Arabic for a year and a half, so there goes the cliches; the sentiment is genuine and heartfelt though. It was too painful to say the things I want to say in English...so I turned to Arabic. It's also a lot more concise in Arabic.
You came back to me, in my dreams
On the day that
My eyes first knew you
O, how I wish it was today!
O, how I wish to return to that day!
My hand remembers you
My heart remembers you
You are in everything I see
The tree under her we sat
The cat that ran between our legs
Once, once, once…
Once you were with me
O I do not forget my days and nights –
A month like a year;
A night like an hour.
I cannot — I cannot!
I cannot forget my days and nights (with you)
|