No Sin For a Mirror

No Sin for a Mirror

 Arabic Poem by: Habib Al-Samir*

Translated Into English by:

Inaam Al-Hashimi (Gold_N_Silk)

=========================



In a room,

Bordered by the sun on the right

And the moon on the left,

A mirror stands

On a smooth wall

Exposing or concealing my failures.

Since I am stuck on it,

It tells me tales every morning,

With polished gestures

Revealing everything

And, also,

Holding everything.


It keeps on facing me

Contemplating my body,

The shape of my hair

And the color of my eyes,

And it's no sin for a mirror.

***


Oh, you!

Keeper of my secrets, and holder of my deeds, 

How often have you picked the heat off my tears as I cried, 

And  as I grieved over my defeats! 

Oh you!

In yestertimes we left our remnants behind

We laughed long

About past times and reflections

Charged with a spate of attention.

I remember that I left a tattoo

On your forehead

As you beheld the drizzle falling on my bed.


Here are my fragrant silken dreams; 

When cold, I resort to you

To give me fabulous warmth. 

I buried my remnants 

As a grapevine

Would bury its remnants in wine!!

Oh you!  The savor of my coffee, 

Oh my mirror!

Here was the fragrance 

In the rendezvous of our two bodies. 


Sometimes, in my absence

You tidied my scattered papers;

Oh, how splendid your hand was

As it touched my things!

Compassionate, calm, and full of sentiment  it was.

You memorized the journey of my fingers 

And embalmed the expressions 

of my laughter

At my repeated failures.

I shall close my door

To find you sailing off on the boat of my soul

Taking the color of the sun,

And reciting poems I have not written yet. 


Oh my mirror,

How fond you are

Of remembering names so special to me

My female friends,

The types of tobacco I like, 

And even the taste of my wilderness!


Oh, how I fear for you

The presence of vapors sublimating in the space of the room!

I will stay with you

In my room

That's bordered by the sun 

As she descends from her throne;

And, in the night, as the moon escorts you

In the pleasure journey, 

I'll slip off my cloak and wear my delight

As you look at me.


Why are you so dazzled?

As if you, for the first time,

Noticed my presence

In your depth!

=====

Translated by:
 Em. Prof. Inaam Al-Hashimi (Gold_N_Silk)

July 26, 2013
*Habib Al-Samir is a poet from Iraq

Original text in Arabic : http://www.alnoor.se/article.asp?id=209949

*

Copyright © | Year Posted 2013



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 9/24/2013 9:21:00 PM
very beautiful poem
Login to Reply
Al-Hashimi Avatar
Inaam Al-Hashimi
Date: 9/24/2013 11:15:00 PM
Thank you!
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter