Illustration by Kahlil Gibran

I am coming from the distant past
From illusions we fabricated
And words we spoke in faith.

I am coming on a pair of legs
Paralyzed by deep, yellow sleep
A long and yellow sleep;
It murders the voice of my conscience
And muzzles it,
But the dragon guards it
With his claws
And prevents my escape.

I am coming from the company
Of the child we were to conceive
And give strength to
So he can bequeath his hands
As shady fragrant branches
To children without shoes.

Yesterday I soared to the stars
To imbue them with color
And light their neglected fire.
And on my way I stopped
To make a crown out of clouds
Then went on to the awaited world.
Alone, I planted the moon as a lantern
And lighted the highways of the sun?

I was lost in fallow fantasies
And laved with the pleasures
Of your eye light.
I traveled many light years
And followed many centuries.
I embraced the skies
To reach your illusory shadows;
I wore the shirt of God.

I am coming from the distant past;
Will I have a part in the present?

Your lips are blue
With too many names and shapes
Will they make room for me?

Translated from the original Arabic
by M. Bennani and George El-Hage.