(translated from Arabic by Michael Beard and Adnan Haydar)
Long ago I screamed at the city:
Husk of the world,
I'm holding you in my hand.
Long ago I muttered at the ship,
my song in a rose-red blaze:
all or nothing.
As for you, my grandchildren, I'm tired,
tired of myself, tired of the seas.
Bring me that chair.