A Forest without a Gatekeeper
Inspired by the book of ‘Calila & Dumnah’
By Tarif Youssef Agha
It is said that once upon a time
There was a Forest without a Gatekeeper
The one who goes in, doesn’t know whether he will return
Its rulers love cutting off heads
***
A forest that had no King, but just a President
He issued no orders and owned no properties
His heart was always beating for his people!
If you listen to him, it is as if you listen to an angle
***
He appointed a Lizard as his Vice-president
A Lizard that you hardly can hear or see
Bless a Forest where a Lizard has an office
Even so no one believes that except the Lizard itself
***
That Forest had a Government like no other
Its members were those of ears, tongues and titles
Long ears that don’t hear and long tongues that don’t talk
But longer than their ears and tongues were their tails
***
Their minister, the Elephant, swallowed a whole continent
Then asked for more
It always insisted that elephants fly
After all, it flew with its regime
***
Another minister, the she-Vulture, had a swing (proverb)
She thought that screaming would benefit her
And that if she would make some jumps in the air
The folks would agree to stay in captivity
***
The Pigs thought that if they keep lying
Then every one will end up believing them
And the Rats thought that, because they are rats
Their skills will save them from the flood of that spring
***
One of their Serpents was kicked out of their neighbors’ assembly
And was advised to wash its tongue with soap
Other Serpents in great forests were summoned
They were told ‘we know what you are doing’
***
The Forest had a Mufti and Sheikh who look respectful
Both of them belonged to the gender of the Owl
Their fatwa’s (religious decrees) were ready in tons
Each one of them had a round turban on his head (folk’s song)
***
For the Forest’s Congress, they chose a group of Leaches
They survive only on blood sucking
They have neither face nor expression
But it doesn’t matter; the seat’s price is money and loyalty
***
The security of the jungle was assigned to a herd of Hyenas
Every one knows that Hyenas were not created to fight
In the time of peace, they walk behind the Tigers
But in the time of war, they leave the Rabbits behind
***
What a big number of Locusts we had in our Forest
They used to leave no food for others, neither fresh nor dry
One of them was the President’s relative
It used to get its shares while sitting doing nothing
***
No one there dared to even talk
As the regime suppressed every one
Locusts, as you know, have neither a political party nor a religion
All of them were partners in robbing and jailing the others
***
Nevertheless, this relative was one of the best (available)
As all others were Scorpions
They still rob and steal as that relative
But killing is a duty in their job description
***
Also, what a big number of Zebras we had
Those who mixed between the neighing and the braying
And there was a Crow who claimed it was a dentist and also nationalism’s wise-man
But it kept annoying every one with its caw
And there was a Frog who thought it was a genius in politics
But filled the world with its croaking, day and night
And there was a she-Chameleon who became real old and ugly
So she tried to run after the fading offers
***
What, also, a big number of allies our Forest had abroad
Especially from those who wear beards and robes
They used to do what Snakes do
Then hid in the feathers of Doves
***
An old Bear used to keep returning to the Forest
It used to think that it was still young
But the scabies invaded whatever is left of its hair
And the rust covers whatever is left of its claws and fangs
***
A Dragon that always narrowed its heart, beside its eyes
Very gifted and skillful in playing with fire
And had a rich history in shedding blood
Even we saw it sometimes walking in a monk’s gown
***
That was, and still is, a Forest of nightmares
If you head to it, it is as if you punish yourself
Its lands are jails and its trees are gallows
Its rain is of bullets, and its wind never stops wailing
***
Poetry by: Tarif Youssef-Agha
An expatriate Arab Syrian Writer & Poet
Houston, Texas
Friday December 23, 2011
http://sites.google.com/site/tarifspoetry