The Martyr Girl

The Martyr Girl Arabic Poem by: Jasem Al-Khafaji* Translated into English by: Inaam Al-Hashimi (Gold_N_Silk) =========================== In your absence, Dreariness, in every class, Has been the prayer of the break.. Every teacher calls your name, His voice falls slaughtered, in pain, on his lips.. In every standing and every sitting, Your class condoles with your desk.. Without you there, the schoolyard feels empty The bell sounds strangled as it tolls for you.. Oh, grief of all schools! Oh, weariness of all lessons! Too young to be gone.. Your mother wished to see you a bride.. Vacant was your stand in the lines and rows For the flag ceremony And, silently, The flag was raised.. The blackboard is missing your words Saddened with no words to spell “Dar” … “Door” Oh, grief! When your braid caught fire, The kids tried to put it off with your bookcase Their hands were too small to carry water.. May God help your mother.. Your mother, who, in her grief, turned white, Like daylight upon your coffin Your mother, who, with slaps of grief, Drew skipping squares on her cheeks Your mother, who raised your hand in prayer to God Your mother, who used to come to get you, At the end of the school day Your mother, who, not even once, Received a teacher’s note complaining about you Your mother, who is wrapping ribbons Around your pictures In madness after you God help your mother, who, in her grief, Turned white like daylight upon your coffin.. O God, May all bombs be paralyzed, And all blasts be blinded! ---------------------------------------- * Jasem Al-Khafaji is a poet from Iraq, The poem is in Iraqi folks spoken dialect