The Red Epitaph
  Translated by: Dr. Sharef Fayez

This palm tree has lost all hope for the spring
This palm tree has hundreds of scars of war
the scars of a thousand tragedies of everyday
       the scars of a thousand calamities of every night
It’s a red epitaph at the crossroad of the century
Here by the river -- this river of tear and blood --
the roots of this tree intertwine with
the blind roots of time
       in the chillness of the tragedy
       in the chillness of the blood
Here the sky from the red sterile clouds
has cast this bloody shroud
       on the broken lap of the coffin --
       the coffin of the rain’s mirror
This palm tree has lost all hope for rain
This palm tree has lost all hope for the spring
This palm tree has hundreds of wounds
       by scourges of the polar night winds
Oh my tree! My only tree!
Oh my spring!
Many years have passed since the blossom bird
       left your yellowing branches
How sad I feel
when butterflies are also leaving you!

Kabul- Nov 1989