Nizar Qabbani: "I wrote on the wind" (From Arabic)

"I wrote on the wind"
By Nizar Qabbani
Translated by A.Z. Foreman
Click here to hear me recite the Arabic

I wrote on the wind
The name of her I love
Which I wrote on the water.
I did not know the wind
Was a poor listener
I did not know the water
Could not remember names.


The Original:

كتبت فوق الريح
اسم التي احبها
كتبت فوق الماء
لم ادر انّ الريح
لا تحسن الإصغاء
لم ادر انّ الماء
لا يحفظ الأسماء