Thus Speaks the Arab Ruler

Thus Speaks the Arab Ruler

By Tarif Youssef Agha

The Arab ruler stood at the podium and said

Changes happen every where in the universe, but not in our countries

We were seated in our palaces to impose slavery

And to silent every one who sings for freedom

To shepherd people just as if they were herds

So it will be our right to slaughter them any time we wish

And the same if we cut off the water and electricity

And impose humiliation and hunger upon them

In brief, we don’t want in our countries any ‘brainy people’

Neither dignitaries nor heroes

We want people who don’t hear, speak or see

People who like to be in mud and love to live in disgrace

People who are ready to worship the everlasting leader

And ready to let him ride their backs as if they were horses

People who understand that opposition leads to prison

And that speaking up their opinions can be fatal

Or can cause them the worst kinds of torture

As we (Arab rulers) developed torture methods above imagination

We, still, welcome those who adore humiliation

We promise them that they won’t be disappointed here

To make a long story short, we only want the weak to live under us

And also the cowards and those who are originally without dignity

These are the conditions for life in the Arab countries

Those who don’t like them, can start preparing for departure

We don’t insist to keep any one who loves pride

Our border gates are so wide, even camels can go through (a proverb)

But those who decide to stay to oppose us

We will let them end in graves, or keep moving them between cells

***

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 November 14, 2014, Houston, Texas

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