Oh You In The Sad Photo

The body of the drowned Syrian toddler, Aylan, was found on a Turkish beach, along with the bodies of his mom and elder brother. They died while trying to escape illegally to Europe by sea and the dad was the only survivor.

Oh you in the Sad Photo

By Tarif Youssef Agha

Oh you in the sad photo, don’t expect anger from

A world that doesn’t deserve but wood, gas and fire

As this world still, eve n to today, protects

The one who slaughtered his people and stripped his country

And you, my son, wouldn’t die that way if

You were one of those who had gold

That world who gave you the choice between the fangs of snakes

And the tummies of whales, is the world which is crying on you today

It will shed alligators’ tears on you

But inside it, it is dancing happily and delightfully for your passing away

Oh people of Syria, don’t believe those who claim that they are your brothers,

As they have already failed the brotherhood test

And don’t believe those who claim that they are your friends

As they are the ones who refused to arm your rebels

They offered you the sea as a mattress, and the wave as a pillow

And applauded every time death claimed some of your sons

They turned trucks into graves for you and

They withhold you on the borders as if you were infected

Oh you who are sleeping peacefully in the photo, your little shoes should

Crown the heads of the world rulers, both Arabs and none Arabs

And don’t feel sad because your Arab nation couldn’t save you

Since that nation lost its honor as it lost its glorious name

And finally, oh my son who is sleeping on the beach

Don’t blame any one, as this world doesn’t know what guilt is

***

A Poem translation

(Can be shared without permission)

By Tarif Youssef-Agha

An Expatriate Arab Syrian Writer & Poet

Member of the ‘Syrian Revolutionary Writers Assembly’

Friday September 4, 2015, Houston, Texas

http://sites.google.com/site/tarifspoetry