There was a woman at the door <br />Standing with a body as ever <br />I approached her: <br />Her image flooded my eyes. <br />Speech turned into wings of passion and knowledge. <br />Shadow turned into sun. <br /> <br />I walk out in the sun <br />I was carried away by pleasing signs: <br />I went as far as childhood and sands <br />As far as delightful mistakes <br />As far as abstract objects <br />I neared picturesque waters <br />And trees full of pears <br />With an ever-present trunk <br />I breathed with the wet truth. <br />My feeling of wonder mingled with the tree. <br />I perceived I abutted on the throne of God <br />I felt a bit distraught. <br />Man goes to seek solace <br />When he feels crestfallen. <br />I did too. <br /> <br />I went as far as the table <br />The yogurt’s taste, the fresh green plants <br />There was bread to eat with a cup and saucer: <br />My throat pined for a goblet of vodka. <br /> <br />I returned: <br />The woman was there at the door <br />Standing with a body of deadly wounds. <br />An empty can <br />Kept paring away <br />The water's throat. <br /> <br />(Translated by Ismail Salami)<br /><br />Sohrab Sepehri<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/near-a-distant-realm/
