Shaqi Shafiq, Adeni poet

Exercises in Struggling with Loneliness

by Shawqi Shafiq, Translated by Sinan Antoon, Banipal

Rub the heart’s ring

rub it well

to erase the dust of depression

Rub it again carefully

so that the wall of forgetfulness shines

or

draw a circle/put a dove, or two, inside it/watch the wings move (that is if there are any)

You will ask: What if the circle crumbles?

What if the dove flies away

or if I am bothered by the wings’ noise

I will say to you: erase the circle

for all the traces to disappear

or put a fresh woman

instead of the dove

to seek revenge

for the aridity of an apartment

devouring your mouth