Poem by Dr. Nazih KASSIS
Nazih Kassis born in 1944 in Iqrit, Palestine is a lexicographer and translator of contemporary Arabic and poetry. He received his doctorate in Linguistics from the University of Exeter, England and has compiled, edited, translated dictionaries and poetry books. He writes poetrys in local Palestinian dialect. He taught Arabic and English at the University of Haifa and Portland State University. He is one of the Arab minority now living in Hazafon, Israel.
EAST AND WEST
Dear Sandy Sue and Steve Do you like me believe
The East and West can meet When they together eat?
The dish becomes ONE dish Of bread and salt and fish
And when they use ONE plate They know they have ONE fate!
Their hearts become ONE heart United in ONE part
Like mother earth and sky And all the planets high
That move around the Sun Become an eternal ONE!
***
Kepada Sandy Sue dan Steve Adakah kalian suka aku percaya
Timur dan Barat boleh bertemu Bila mereka makan bersama?
Makanannya SATU jenis yang sama Roti dan garam dan ikan
Dan bila mereka gunakan SATU pinggan yang sama Mereka tahu mereka menghadapi SATU nasib yang sama
Hati mereka menjadi SATU hati yang sama Bersatu dalam SATU bahagian
Seperti bumi dan langit Dan semua planet di langit biru
Yang bergerak mengelilingi mentari Kekal menjadi SATU
Translated into Bahasa MELAYU by Siti Ruqaiyah HASHIM
FOR WORLD PEACE POEM ANTHOLOGY
‘ ARTFUL GAMES OF THE GODS’
COPYRIGHT RESERVED
