Poem
Fatima Zahra Bennis
All by myself
All by myself
I take leave of my burden
And ascend alone
Followed by my thirst
And a vision that my innermost self
Savors.
I sail the sky alone
Dissolve like a blind wave
Catch myself, and then break free from me
Terrified of my shadow.
I rise once more like a fish
Surrounded by seagulls showing
That I am not the daughter of flames,
The mate of firewood.
I am not who I am
Who am I?
O me !
I ascend majestic in my embers
Up the staircase of madness
Unabashed by overabundance
Not caring for any escape
I ascend alone
Dressed in my sins
Proud of my metaphors
Untroubled by regrets
Undisturbed in my kingdom by illusions
How pleasant is ascension
To the throne of the impossible
© Translation: 2018, Norddine Zouitni
وحدي
وحدي
وحدي
أودع أعبائي
وأعلو وحيدة
يتبعني عطشي
وخيال تتجرعه
سريرتي
أمخر السماء وحدي
أتحلل موجة عمياء
أقبض علي فأنفلت مني
مذعورة من ظلي
على شكل سمكة انبعث
تطوقني نوارس تكشف لي:
أني لست من صلب اللهب
لست التي عاشرها الحطب
لست انا أنا
فمن انا؟
يا أنا؟
أعلو مهيبة بجمري
أرتقي سلم الجنون
لا أخجل من فيض
ولا أكترث بنجاة
أعلو وحيدة
أكتسي خطاي
مزهوة باستعاراتي
لا ندم يربكني
ولا وهم يتسلل إلى مملكتي
ما أشهى استوائي
على سدة المحال...
© 2016, Fatima Zahra Bennis
From: ‘Ala Hafati ‘umrin Harib/On the Edge of a Fleeting Life
Publisher: Dar El Badaoui, Tunis
From: ‘Ala Hafati ‘umrin Harib/On the Edge of a Fleeting Life
Publisher: Dar El Badaoui, Tunis
Poems
Poems of Fatima Zahra Bennis
Close
All by myself
All by myself
I take leave of my burden
And ascend alone
Followed by my thirst
And a vision that my innermost self
Savors.
I sail the sky alone
Dissolve like a blind wave
Catch myself, and then break free from me
Terrified of my shadow.
I rise once more like a fish
Surrounded by seagulls showing
That I am not the daughter of flames,
The mate of firewood.
I am not who I am
Who am I?
O me !
I ascend majestic in my embers
Up the staircase of madness
Unabashed by overabundance
Not caring for any escape
I ascend alone
Dressed in my sins
Proud of my metaphors
Untroubled by regrets
Undisturbed in my kingdom by illusions
How pleasant is ascension
To the throne of the impossible
© 2018, Norddine Zouitni
From: ‘Ala Hafati ‘umrin Harib/On the Edge of a Fleeting Life
From: ‘Ala Hafati ‘umrin Harib/On the Edge of a Fleeting Life
All by myself
All by myself
I take leave of my burden
And ascend alone
Followed by my thirst
And a vision that my innermost self
Savors.
I sail the sky alone
Dissolve like a blind wave
Catch myself, and then break free from me
Terrified of my shadow.
I rise once more like a fish
Surrounded by seagulls showing
That I am not the daughter of flames,
The mate of firewood.
I am not who I am
Who am I?
O me !
I ascend majestic in my embers
Up the staircase of madness
Unabashed by overabundance
Not caring for any escape
I ascend alone
Dressed in my sins
Proud of my metaphors
Untroubled by regrets
Undisturbed in my kingdom by illusions
How pleasant is ascension
To the throne of the impossible
© 2018, Norddine Zouitni
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