email from Chris (poem)

Kelly Rae--
While I was at PDX waiting for my flight to Denver I stopped in at Powells and spotted a book titled "On Entering The Sea". I picked it up because I thought it was a book about sailing or kayaking, but and when I opened it I discovered it was a book of poetry written by a middle-eastern poet. I like poetry about as much as the next guy, which means not very much (interesting to think about since most of the "great" poets are male). This man obviously lived and loved with great depth and feeling. His poetry is intensely foreign and the imagery kept coming to mind when I was in Denver so I went back at the bookstore after my return flight and bought it. I look forward to sharing it with you some evening soon. In the meantime, here is one of the more evocative poems.
--Chris

"Woman" by Nizar Qabbani

Woman who was inscribed
in books of magic,
before you came
the world was prose.
Now poetry is born.
Give me time to catch
the colt that runs toward me,
your breast,
a bedouin breast, sweet
as cardamom seeds
as coffee brewing over embers
its form ancient as Damascus brass,
as Egyptian temples.

Woman whose thighs are like
the desert palm that golden
dates fall from,
your breasts speak seven tongues
and I was made to listen
to them all.
Give me the chance
to avoid this storm,
this sweeping love,
this wintry air,
and to be convinced to blaspheme,
and to enter
the flesh of things.

Give me the chance
to be the one
to walk on water.

(little does he know that I have a fondness for Qabbani's love letters. He's like the Nin of the middle east.)