From my 2013 Arabic diary, upon returning to Damascus from Jordan, rejecting the US-led intervention in Syria. Image by Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz
DAMASCUS –
Mock if you want—go.
There’s no harm in mockery, no taboo.
And be glad.
And clink your glasses—go on—
for tomorrow
we escort another country
to the cemetery.
And dance.
And play with your fireworks, too—
yours, and your masters’.
Why should it matter to you?
This homeland is yours—
do with it what you wish.
Let it wander through black markets.
Fight over its dust,
over its children.
Bravo to you,
merchants of Damascus:
sell—
and buy.
And strike
with everything you were given of force.
Strike your brothers.
And justify betrayal with betrayal,
and cowardice with cowardice,
and dependence with dependence—
logic
stands with you.
Congratulations.
You now own the right
to destroy what remains of our country
with a righteous face.
فلتشمتوا ..
لا ضيرَ في أن تشمتوا
و لتفرحوا
و لتقرعوا كؤوسكمْ ببعضها
فغداً نشيّع جثّة وطن ثانيةْ
و لترقصوا و لتلعبوا بمفرقعاتكمُ
و مفرقعات أسيادكمُ
ما همّكمْ؟
هذا الوطن .. لكمْ
تفعلون بهم ما شئتمُ
تسرحون بسوقه السّوداءْ
تضاربون على (ترابهِ) و (أطفالهِ)
مرحى لكمْ ، تُجارَ الشّامْ
فلتبيعوا و لتشتروا
و لتضربوا بكل ما أتيتم من قوةٍ
أخوتكمْ ..
و لتبرروا الخيانةَ بالخيانةِ ..
و التّخاذلَ بالتّخاذلِ ..
و التّبعيّةَ بالتّبعيّةِ ..
فالمنطقُ معكمْ
هنيئاً لكمْ
تملكون أن تدمروا ما تبقى من بلادنا ..
بوجه حقْ
Roumani Line 