Sleep / ABU KARIM

Nothing is so precious as sleep.

Sunlight plays in the green pine forest.

In the shadow of black eyes like the deep color of pines,

like an ant,I go on collecting unknown crumbs of food-

do not know how.

From the horizon,touching the bosom of hills,

dry cold wind blows downward.

I am still unaware of what may wait

at the terminal point of my route.

Norway,  September 23,1997

Translated by Dulal Al Monsur