Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Wadih Sa’adeh

A Tree

He took two steps forward to touch
a tree he had planted the day before.
Blood flowed from his palm into the sap.
Leaves in his mind appeared on the branches.
When he tried to step backwards,
he remained where he was standing.
His feet had become roots.

شجرة

شجرة


مَشَى خطوتيْن ولمسَ
نبتةً زرعَها البارحةَ
خرجَ نَسْغٌ من يديه إلى عروقِها
خرجَتْ من عينيه أوراقٌ إلى غصونها
وحينَ أرادَ العودة
لم يَبْرَحْ مكانَهُ،
كانت قدماهُ تحوَّلَتا
جذورًا.
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A Tree

He took two steps forward to touch
a tree he had planted the day before.
Blood flowed from his palm into the sap.
Leaves in his mind appeared on the branches.
When he tried to step backwards,
he remained where he was standing.
His feet had become roots.

A Tree

He took two steps forward to touch
a tree he had planted the day before.
Blood flowed from his palm into the sap.
Leaves in his mind appeared on the branches.
When he tried to step backwards,
he remained where he was standing.
His feet had become roots.
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère