There is Much Talk...

A beautiful poem by the famous Iraqi poet Kareem al-Iraqi. It is about a man making a confession about the love of his life. Most of it is a word for word translation except in some cases where I thought it wouldn't read properly. Of course in Arabic it makes more sense and the entire poem rhymes.

There is much talk on the one I love,

There is much talk on who it is I love.

'How old is she?'

'What's her secret?'

'What's her name?'

'How does she look?'

'Is she blonde or brown?'

'Are your eyes more lovely than hers?'

The thing I fear the most is that you are affected,

So hold on, prepare and brace yourself,

For female jealousy can wound like daggers.

She is more beautiful than all the wonders, more so than you and me.

She is more stunning than all the marvels, and closer to my heart than me.

She is more exquisite than Kareem's poetry or Kathim's greatest hymns.

They say; you spend all night with her? Of course I do!

They say; you live with her? Of course I do!

I live and sleep in her eyes and rest my head on her chest,

She relieves all the worries of life with but a single touch,

Embrace me women, my heart can hear her even in silence.

Baghdad...

And has God ever created anything like you?