what do you write about?
asked the Jordanian poet.
about love, I answered.
there isn’t anything else, is there.
yes, agreed the Jordanian poet,
there really isn’t anything else.
when he read out his poem
in the Arabic language
his tears flowed freely.
sentimental, I thought.
then the same poem
was read out in English,
it spoke of how his family
was killed before his eyes,
his brothers, parents, wife,
and of how apart from love
there isn’t anything else.

© Triin Soomets. By arrangement with the author. Translation © 2015 by Miriam McIlfratrick. All rights reserved.

millest sa kirjutad? kysis
jordaania luuletaja.
vastasin: armastusest.
midagi muud ju ei ole.
jah, nõustus jordaania poeet,
ega midagi muud ei ole.
kui luges araabia keeles
ette enese luulet,
tal pisarad voolasid.
mõtlesin: sentimentaalne.
siis loeti inglise keeles
sama luuletus ette,
see rääkis, kuidas ta pere
tapeti tema nähes,
ta vennad, vanemad, naine,
ja et peale armastuse
midagi muud ei ole.