Poem 057: The Garbled Story Poem by Samer Madbak

Hear this: I am the genie of the flask
The selfsame of that fairy tale of old
I’m he whom Solomon had ta’en to task
And pent, and cast out in the wat’ry fold.

Thus was I borne, a thousand aeons died
During the which an honor word I swore
“He who receiveth me out of the tide
Shall win my services for evermore.”

Thus was I lost, confined many a year
The oath I held with full fidelity
Another thousand spent I in the mere
No chanceful man came to my liberty…

And so I was inclined to retaliate,
And this I trothed: “Whoever rescueth
A gassy goblin shall but meet his fate
Him shall I slay, and let him choose his death.”

But then a fisherman, ill-fated lout,
Caught up the flask, a treasure of the sea
And opened it and forthwith did I spout
And leapt to from in vast immensity.

“Now will you surely lose your dearly life,
Foul man, choose then a death, for thus I vowed.”
“Have mercy, genie, on my kids and wife
I freed you, shall this be the prize endowed? ”

And thus he kept entreating with a tone
That showed his misery and penury,
My heart was softened, list’ning to his moan
“Ah wretch! ” I said to him, “Go hence, you’re free”

I said that and the serpent raised his head
And reckoning a passion in my look
Devised a witless ruse, anon he said:
“But tell me, how did you fit in this nook? ! ”

Ha! After all the surety I gave
To this boor he was bent to swindle me
Ill-hearted mortal, beast, immoral knave
My first thought was to tear him utterly.

But thinking once again, myself I mocked
Be men exemplifièd in this vassal,
Then how can I among them thrive? I rocked
And decomposed back to my vapid vial.

“Make fast the cork, slave of your misery
'Tis better for me to be thrown away
To stay entombed within a dusky sea
Than see the light upon a mortal day! ”


Beirut
June 3rd 1989