Prisoner

Ahmed Arif

Translated From Turkish by Emeer Hassanpour

Suddenly

As if it has taken a bullet, it falls silent—
against my pupils,
it falls silent, and then
the city opens, gives way to a road.
Only on the radios: a mournful air,
“Elaziz, the long bazaar.”

I’ve no eye for escape,
no shamelessness in me,
no state of repentance.
Leaning back,
I want to light a cigarette—
its smoke is worth jewels.

Should I say defeated, should I say ashamed?
But it is neither.
I am strange; you are beautiful.
The world is hopeful.
I am so oddly myself this late afternoon,
my love—
as though a monster were dragging me off,
both my sides,
two bayonets.