hey

Wikipedia translation of Tunisian poet Abo Al Qassim Al Shabbi‘s
(1909-1934) “To the Tyrants of the World,”

Hey you, the unfair tyrants…
You the lovers of the darkness…
You the enemies of life…
You’ve made fun of innocent people’s wounds; and your palm covered with
their blood
You kept walking while you were deforming the charm of existence and
growing seeds of sadness in their land


Wait, don’t let the spring, the clearness of the sky and the shine of
the morning light fool you…
Because the darkness, the thunder rumble and the blowing of the wind are
coming toward you from the horizon
Beware because there is a fire underneath the ash


Who grows thorns will reap wounds
You’ve taken off heads of people and the flowers of hope; and watered
the cure of the sand with blood and tears until it was drunk
The blood’s river will sweep you away and you will be burned by the
fiery storm.