1

Alone with the night, I embark a cloud of wild violet
My father, who rode the bronze horse of death, left me
For the cotton stones and snowy mountains
I crawl between crowds of hungry people
Like a weak mist, I encircle the roads and cry at night on my mother’s chest
No wave in my hand
In my palm hand, a sad willow tree grew
Alone with the night, I embark a cloud of wild violet
O’ Bulbul that got drenched in the moonlight go and fly away

Out of my hands, a storm of orange suns blows
My eyes are two boats wandering in the ocean
My heart is a cold winter
I used to flow with the pain between the letters and walk to the sea
I walk and jasmine grows vigorously between my steps

2

The streets are crowded with lovers’ sighs
O my beloved woman! Let me grow inside of you as a wild herb
Let me harvest the wheat from your breasts
When the winter comes, I used to take my words to the bar and get drunk from drinking pain
When I get back to my office, the letters used to whip me
And the words turned into gallows and the odes into orchards of slat
When the spring comes, I used to accompany my pen to the old cottages
And get drunk from drinking pain
When I go back home, the odes used to whip me because I took off my virgin dress
When summer comes, I used to look for an orphaned rain between my beloved’s breasts
When autumn comes, the blood becomes yellow between my lips
And the shadow of a God inside me rises so that I may to be sweeter than sugar

3

My body is a cold lake and my soul trembles like a bare willow tree
Uproot the rock out of my ribs!
Put your perfume in the swamp of memory!
Bathe in the cavities of heart and construct churches and then pray on the dream carpet as a nun
Play a wild tune
My eyes are two roses of pearls
My fingers are flocks of wild gazelles running between tragedies
My body is a forest of mist
Like a breeze scented with joy, light the walls of my realm
Let millions of suns erupt from my stars and dance your favorite dance
So that the bare trees inside me may come to leaf

Abdallah Gasmi
TUNISIA
Poet, novelist, critic and translator from Tunisia, works as a professor, holds a master’s degree in modern poetry, and a master’s degree in Islamic philosophy, holds many cultural responsibilities, and is the president of the International Cultural Salon in Tunisia
He published 20 books on poetry, novel, criticism, and theater
He received many international poetry awards, and was honored in many countries
Narcissus & Jasmine Orchard