Monday, May 17, 2010

Here's an excerpted poem from Somalia's great poet, Hadrawi. Its about two lovers. The language translates in such a stilted fashion that you know that Somali is an utterly unique- different from English, two luscious fruits of the human vine.

there's a flower which blooms
after morning's compassion
has refreshed it with dew
it brings forth a red liquid
for the mouth to sip
its stamen and stigma
entwine like a rope
was it this they exchanged
offering as a legacy
did they present it to taste
as the last earthly food of love
did they place at the other's ear
the word which was missing

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