Ahmad Shiddiqi - Manuscript 1

dusty pathways seducing endlessly
fire birds are chirping on the stairs of Vesuvius
grinding love down from its trembling cage
let them prove their brave souls fights on War of Antiochos

so the blessed trooper who guard all the others
it is likely God, with angels singing round ruined shrines
Caesar may pluck them with the bitter strike to gather
come and fight with me, my barefoot children

black dress witches sink in man's despair
Rome's orphans of the earthly grief
they say, how long, O cruel tyrants
will you stand to conquer the world?

pale wanderers were speaking at the wall of Colosseum
they know no other words except O a mere pleasure
the rushing of the iron wheels is shocked
do you hear our wishing any more?

(dedicated to a poet friend at poemhunter, Louis Rams)

Ahmad Shiddiqi

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/manuscript-1/