If you push a Rat to the corner, it acts like a Lion
If you push a Rat to the corner, it acts like a Lion
(Assad in Arabic means Lion)
By Tarif Youssef Agha
Just like, if you are generous with the disgraceful, he stays disgraceful
And like, if you push a Rat to the corner, it acts like a Lion
Just like victory doesn’t come by only talking
And like the rights can’t be taken with a sword unless it is pulled
So it is known that every oppressor will go
No matter how bad he is or how much he threatens
God promises the oppressed to be the victorious
And guaranties to punish the oppressor
***
Just like, we will live only once, no matter how long we live
And like, death is the same, no matter how different the reasons are
Just like life is a stand of courage
And like freedom is a caesarian baby who comes to life covered with blood
So it is known that dawn is coming, no matter how late its arrival
And darkness will leave, no matter how long it has lasted
The regimes of darkness (in nature) are self-destructive
So they should not blame any one else for their destruction
***
Just like, the monster is detestable, no matter how hard it tries to be nice
And like, the coward can’t be trusted, no matter how much he smiles
Just like the storm will move away, no matter how bad it is
And evil will be defeated, no matter how many soldiers it has
So the dictator doesn’t represent anyone but his gang
And the homeland can not be embodied but by its people
If the dictator orders his people to kneel for him, he should rethink
As it is impossible for the free people to kneel to anyone but their creator
If some people like to be slaved and to worship others
The free man worships no one but his God
And the rat, after all, will be nothing but a rat
No matter whether it calls itself a lion, or imitates a lion
***
A Poem translation
Tarif Youssef-Agha
An Expatriate Arab Syrian Writer & Poet
Member of the ‘Syrian Revolutionary Writers Assembly’
Friday April 5, 2013
Houston, Texas
http://sites.google.com/site/tarifspoetry