With a wine glass, ornamented in lapis lazuli, wait for her. With the patience of a horse prepared for mountain slopes, wait for her. With the courtesy of a refined and splendid prince, wait for her.
With the softness of seven pillows filled with clouds, wait for her. With the fire of feminine incense that fills the place, wait for her, and don’t make haste.
If she arrives behind time, if she arrives ahead of time, wait for her.
Don’t startle the bird resting on her curls, and wait for her to make herself as comfortable as a garden in full bloom, and wait for her to breathe this air that is a stranger to her heart, and wait for her to pull up her dress one cloud at a time, and wait for her.
When she places the glass on the marble top, slowly touch her hand as if to relieve her of the burden of dew drops, and wait for her.
Talk to her, like a flute to an anxious violin string, like two witnesses to the schemes of some tomorrow, and wait for her. Polish her night one ring at a time, and wait for her until the night tells you:
There is no one left in the world but the two of you. Only then, take her, gently, to your desired death, and wait for her.
Poem by Mahmoud Darwish. English translation by Nariman Youssef