Etel Adnan

F X

from The Spring Flowers Own

The morning after
my death
we will sit in cafés
but I will not
be there
I will not be

*

There was the great death of birds
the moon was consumed with
fire
the stars were visible
until noon.

Green was the forest drenched
with shadows
the roads were serpentine

A redwood tree stood
alone
with its lean and lit body
unable to follow the
cars that went by with
frenzy
a tree is always an immutable
traveller.

XXXVI from The Arab Apocalypse

In the dark irritation of the eyes there is a snake hiding

In the exhalations of Americans there is a crumbling empire

In the foul waters of the rivers there are Palestinians

OUT OUT of its borders pain has a leash on its neck

In the wheat stalks there are insects vaccinated against bread

In the Arabian boats there are sharks shaken with laughter

In the camel’ s belly there are blind highways

OUT OUT of TIME there is spring’ s shattered hope

In the deluge on our plains there are no rains but stones