Salut Mon Amiee Poem by Humayun Nasir

Salut, mon amiee
My darling, can I ask you to listen
In this deserted land, I beg you listen
S'íll vous plait
Here extreme is not a word
Brutality a mere house talk
Who can define life!

I have seen them walk, talk to each other
Sing and dance so affectionately
like flemingos- crested cranes
And so beautiful a silhoute
As they laugh my darling
The deep dark faces remind me
the days I long and forget.

I wish I could be like them
holding hands, flattering and amused mon cere
As they walk besides my camp.

I know death can be near, and
unsurprisingly time is not an assurance
we have seen all, seen them all
Still who can define life!

As I feel the smile
the dark beautiful ladies walk beside
my camp, easy and thriving so deep.
I wish I could touch the joy
And define life for all.


Note: written on 27.01.06 in DR Congo.