The Republic of the Father and Son

The Republic of the Father and Son

By Tarif Youssef Agha

No matter from where you enter Syria

You will be greeted by a sign welcoming you into (The Assad Syria)

So try not to laugh when you know that

It is a Republic which the father passes to his son

And try even not to smile, in order not to be arrested

As, in fact, you are there as a no body

And be careful where you step on the ground

As under every foot, there is a corpse resting

I won’t be exaggerating if I say that those who are walking atop are

Jealous of those who are resting underneath

A massacre took place in every bazaar

And death made its way into every square

Therefore, try not to extend your stay, as you are there where

They hold up the sign that reads (Assad, or we burn the country)

You are there just as a sheep in the leader’ farm

And as long as you are there, then you are a sheep forever

If you are a journalist, then you are considered a criminal

The regime over there has always hated the truth

Even if you support that regime, don’t think you are safe

As you are no more than just a number

But if you belong to the same sect (Alawyte), then be very careful

As you are the fuel that is used to keep the country in flame

So, no matter who you are, write your last will before heading there

As the one who is entering there is as the one who is entering death

As the regime over there is a mixture of thieves and murderers

It is a regime that is corrupt to the bone

***

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, October 16, 2015, Houston, Texas

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