When the late Syrian director Omar Amiralay, the father of the Arab Documentary, did his movie ‘A Flood in the Baath Country’ back in 2003, he didn’t know then that the flood of the revolution will arrive in Syria after seven years to let the Assad regime pay the price of its tyranny.
And the Flood arrived in the Baath Country
The last episode of a Syrian series
And the Flood arrived in the Baath country
The Flood arrived to take with it the years of shame
And with it, the most prolonged series is about to end
The series that started and about to end in March (1963-2011)
A series which we were promised that
It would narrate the tale of a revolution and its fighters
To find out that its tale was about
People who were ruled by Iron and Fire
***
They turned the Homeland into a farm
Where all the people became either slaves or masters
Either those who were whipped or those who were whipping
Oppressed or oppressors
Sheep or butchers
Corpses or grave diggers
Their relation with the people is like that
Of someone who has a revenge to take
They murder others, and then walk in their funerals
If you don’t believe that, then read the poems of Nizar (late Syrian poet)
And lesson to the song of ‘Ya-haif’ (How Sad)
Oh Sameeh (a Syrian singer), didn’t you really expect what happened?
***
When they wrote the constitution, they altered it according to their dimensions
They did that in the House of the Mercedes and the cigars (the Parliament)
They wrote its chapters on the desert’s sand so they disappear
And in order to erase them, they also wrote them on chalk blackboards
Their words were like those of Musayluma (a famous liar)
‘The words of the day are wiped by those of the night’ (proverb)
They auctioned us and traded us
They sold us and repurchased us in the Bazaar
They made the Case (of Palestine) as an excuse
They benefited from it twice, as the saw cuts both way
They forgot that the Golan (Heights) is occupied
Our Golan is not rented and is not for lease
The time and location of the battle
Both became bored waiting for the decision
***
The people today want nothing but their dignity
Do you really think they will trade for a job or a dollar?
From Damascus this time
The Revolution started and the free people shouted
From the Omayyad Mosque they walked
And told the regime to leave
And from Daraa (a southern city) they advanced raising the flag
And slapped with it the faces of the evil guys
In the Omary Mosque (of Daraa) they gathered
And formed from themselves shields to protect the Homeland
They performed the burning of the first of the Assad idols
The idols which were turned, in the past, into holy shrines
They paid the price of Freedom in blood
Blood that was shed by a coward regime
History registered that blood for Daraa as bravery
And for the butchers (of the regime) as shame and disgrace
The people of Homs (city) roared in support for Daraa
And rushed to fight the oppressor
From Al-Sibaa square (in Homs) the people jumped like lions
And told the cowards that it is now our turn to be in charge of our destiny
Then Al-Sanamain, Dooma, Jableh and Banniass (cities) came to help
Also Lattakia, Al-Mayadeen and the rest of the cities joined
All of them rose and swore
To have a share in the laurel wreath
And to hammer a nail in the throne of darkness
To leave their prints on its casket
Youssef (Al-Azmah) didn’t advance to Mayssaloon (a battle name and location)
But only for Syria to live free
***
The people haven’t forgotten your massacres
History will unveil all your dirt
If you are seeking solutions (to stop the Revolution)
What kind of solutions do you think the butcher excels in?
You don’t excel but in sniping heads
Or hearts with your fatal bullets
We saw you murdering women and children
You don’t have any standard for morality or conscience
And we heard you cawing above your victims like the omen of the crow
We haven’t heard you praying in respect for the souls of the martyrs
The world which is watching you is either
Your partner or a criminal like you
Chivalry hasn’t chosen from rulers but only Al-Taib (Turkey’s PM)
Chivalry goes to each person in just measure
I see in him the gallantry of Al-Mutasem (a historic brave Arab ruler)
I see in him the commander of Thee-Kaar (a historic battle)
But as other crows like you left
And became history the rebels talk about
In a few days, as well, we will see your regime either
Falling or flying away
Then the people will reclaim the dignity
Tracing the footprints of the grandsons of Ourabi or Al-Mukhtar (Arab heroes)
***
A Poem translation
(Can be shared without permission)
Tarif Youssef-Agha
An Expatriate Arab Syrian Writer & Poet
Member of the ‘Syrian Revolutionary Writers Assembly’
March 18, 2011, Houston, Texas
http://sites.google.com/site/tarifspoetry