Countries longing for their inhabitants

By Nujoom Al-Ghanem
Translated by Tim Heffernan & Haider Catan.

We think we are in peace
but our feet remain planted in our countries.
We hold our heads high and inhale fresh air
and think dreams extend beyond the horizon
until we enter the city; panic haunts our souls
and dreams get lost in the narrow streets
and we do not know from which gate they flee.

Click here to listen to Nujoom Al-Ghanem reading this poem in Arabic on Lyrikline.org.