Translations

The Eyes of Words (1970)

Translated from Egyptian Colloquial Arabic by Ahmed Hassan and Elliott
Colla

When the sun drowns
In a sea of clouds,
When a wave of darkness spreads across the world,
When sight dies
In the eye and conscience,
When the road disappears
Between lines and circles,
You—rambler, roamer,
Know-it-all—
No one will guide you
But the eyes of words.

—Composed in Qanatir Prison

عيون الكلام إذا الشمس غرقت في بحر الغمام ومدت على الدنيا موجة ظلام ومات البصر في العيون والبصاير وغاب الطريق في الخطوط والدواير يا ساير يا داير يا ابو المفهومية مفيش لك دليل غير عيون الكلام

Ahmed Fouad Negm (1929–2013) is one of the giants of Egyptian colloquial Arabic poetry. He is most famous for his political poems, especially his satires of the country’s ruling elites. Most audiences know his poetry through the songs of his collaborator, the singer-composer Sheikh Imam. Negm had the distinction of being imprisoned many times by Nasser, Sadat, and Mubarak.

FROM Volume 70, Number 2

Issue 70.2, Spring 2021

The Eyes of Words (1970)

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Build Your Palaces (1973)

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