An Arab Traveller in a Space Station

By Mohammad Al-Maghut
Translated by Abdullah Al-Udhari


Scientists and technicians,
Give me a ticket to the sky:
I come on behalf of my grieved country,
Her aged, her widows, her children.
Give me a ticket to the sky
I have no money... Only tears.


No place for me?
Let me stay in the hold
Or on the deck.
I'm a peasant, I'm used to it.
I won't hurt a star.
I won't be rude to a cloud.
All I want is to reach
The sky as soon as I can
To put the whip in God's hand:
He may stir us to revolution.