I Love October’s Birds

Nizar Qabbani

Translated From Arabic by Emeer Hassanpour

I love to lose my way, like October birds—now and then…

I want to search for a homeland—new, uninhabited.

For a Lord who does not hunt me down,

and a land that does not turn against me.

I want to flee my skin,

and my voice, and my language;

to wander off like the scent of orchards.

I want to run from my shadow,

to slip away from my own headings, my names.

I want to escape the East of fables and serpents—

from caliphs and emirs,

from every sultan.

I want to love like October birds—

O East of gallows and knives—

and emirs, and every sultan…

I want to love like October birds—

O East of gallows and knives…

and emirs, and every sultan…

I want to love like October birds—

O East of gallows and knives…