You crossed the border; your homeland had no language

Or did but had nothing to say

You crossed the border of your homeland for example, suppose

What did your homeland have that the world didn't?

 

What greeted you first was tears 

Such a kind friend with an unkind face

From dust and soil, sorrow hugged you

So close that no one else could

The old man of sickness welcomed you tenderly

He was so tired of wandering from village to village

You wanted to buy happiness yet

It was smuggled hence not sold in shops

 

You crossed the border of your homeland for example, suppose

What did your homeland have that the world didn't?

Oh Poet! You came to the kingdom of misery

To the land that never had sky over it

To a land where poets are traders

Its messengers had no mouth at all

Dogs are ministers and parliamentarians and donkeys are religious

      leaders                                                        

In its mosques there was no call for prayers without bribe

What did you want your homeland to have...

If there were no bones on 'sofra' (dining mat)

Poet! The homeland is a distant past

And this time offers nothing but satire and mourning

I wish you had power and money

Because this eternal talent earns you no living.