For: Abdul Razaq Ar- Rubai 1 The superstition has expended To comprise all of us, all of us. The fancy-dress party has been completed. You, my sharp letter, and I have chosen The role of the naked Not because we only like to be naked But because we have no clothes. Even if we were given some used tatters. Who would assure us that we could wear What would cover our bodies After this amazing nakedness? 2 The superstition has expended. * Our babies are in the cradle, who cares for them? - Allah does. * And our griefs are in the cradle, who cares for them? - The whip does. * And our superstitions are in the letter, who cares for them? - The uselessness does. * My stupid letter, It is vainness! The superstition has expended And bought an umbrella for its bored dreams And gone out naked down the streets Followed by all the fools of the world. 3 The superstition has expended. (Who are you? Where do you come from?) The inquirer asked. Staring into his eyes, I was terribly amazed. (Who are you? Where will you go?) The inquirer asked. I grew puzzled and my eyes welled with tears. (Who are you? Where will you die?) I looked at my corpse: it is still hot. So, I cried. 4 The superstition has expended. In the capitals where the Iqal* and swimsuit are worn We have searched, for our griefs, new exiles. The friends escaped from us. They left us to be eaten up in the desert. The superstitions expended…expended. Even I, who carried my letter as a cross, In the middle of capitals, Cried and sang Sang and prayed Prayed and spent the night in prayer I looked around and saw nobody to help me To dig my grave Only the dead Who received me together with my corpse In the waterfall of noisy laughter. **** · iqal: a double-folded felt rope usually worn on the head by Arabs.