Brother, Garbage Sweeper

Brother, garbage sweeper, Don’t sweep anyone’s hopes away They’ve tossed into the streets... Tears, you know, Cannot smudge Our Avenues... Folks on the whole Keep their regrets All bottled up... No you can’t guess How they feel When they don’t go outside... Those garbage pails You’ve emptied out for years And years and years, are mute Witness to your feelings... So why allow anyone Who thinks only of his stomach To bother you? Brother, garbage sweeper, please don’t misunderstand My words... I never intended To humiliate you .... What’s the difference Between us?... Brother, garbage sweeper, Don’t sweep anyone’s hopes away They’ve tossed into the streets... Tears, you know, Cannot smear Our Avenues... © Üzeyir Lokman ÇAYCI Paris, 10. 05.1999 Traduit par Yakup YURT en français French free verse translated into English free verse by Richard Vallance , 2002