Branches That Thirst
by Limam Boicha
Beneath the shadow of a thorn tree
two naked people
are shuddering with thirst
while their oasis
lies half a desert away
In Santiago Bay
someone beats a drum
and chants a rain charm
in Hassaniya or Amharic
in Mandinka or Spanish
From the Canaletas fountain
a message in Catalan springs
with a map and directions
saying this lost camel
not yet branded by fire
can become a trough of water
The literal translation of this poem was made by Tom Boll
The final translated version of the poem is by The Poetry Translation Workshop
© Poetry Translation Centre 2004-2013
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