THE TRAVEL DUST

By Charbel Baini

Translated by Mirna Nehme

-1-

The travel dust is stuck to my clothes

It multiplies on its own 

It tore my pockets

Its colour the colour of darkness

From it many became crazy 

How does a day face me 

And all the age lying dreams

-2-

A dust that does not have mercy 

On the cry of the yearning 

To the stones of a small house 

They became old 

There in a village on the wind elbow 

Between it and between the sun

It drew a line 

And on the line it set up swings 

To swing poems and longings

-3-

Still the same as I left ages ago

Love and hospitality

Sacrifice and faith

And neighbours from their laughters 

Rise a moon

The word welcome greeted all mankind

And despite the hatred, 

The war, 

The danger craziness 

Neighbours remained 

So Lebanon remained

-4-

How do I accomplish my return?

And the hope bird drowning in my tears

The hands are waving with a scarf 

Long time ago repeating ballads:

The homeland hunger like worries heavy

And Lebanon is not feeling my hunger

**