M O H A M M E D    M A H M O U D   E L - S H E I K H
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SINGING FOR THE CHILDREN OF AR

 

Translated by Charles Cantalupo & Ghirmai Negash

Singing for the children of Ar
Means surviving the final battle

Singing for the children of Ar
Means epic revelation

Singing for the children of Ar
Means no more talk but action

Yet peace enough to endure
Death stalking Setit on fire
And the songs of love and hate
Bursting from my heart

Listen to these two
Before we reach the sea:

First:
I am cactus and sand,
Barren and no rain,
A desert without green.
I am hunger
Eating your land,
Seizing your voice,
Making you bitter
And your only choice
To be a toy of death
Unless you also sing….

Second:
Beloved, I return.
I am coming like rain
To children who burn
In a sallow desert.
A flowering cactus
Inspires them like the sea
At twilight, stars
Falling into the forest
And the dance of my dagger
Against hunger.
I plow it under
With all our frustration,
And shining deep within
The furrows, written in our blood,
I see victory.

I know I'm dark and rough,
But two songs are enough
To beat back my fear
Of dying in this war.

When I hear
The children playing the “martyrs and enemies” game –

I'm first.
No me.
But you're only three.
The oldest go last.
How about me?
Who will it be?
Hamed. Dabroum.
Ginger. Alem
Mesfin. Saadiya.
Kabroum. Me!
Me! Me!

– I say, Quiet! Enough!
But they talk back.
        Now you be the enemy.
        Let's fight!

And I respond.
I can't be the enemy.
They're gone anyway,
And you will stay.

I sing for the children of Ar,
Of a love in the forest and caves
Of Golujj – a painting finished
With the barrel of a gun – the soldier,
Abraham, shot, carrying out the body
Of his hero, Mahmuday.

Children of Ar,
My story won't go away,
For you and for all generations to come.

 

 

 

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