Mehrnoosh

“They're both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.

Since they'd never met before, they're sure
that there'd been nothing between them.
But what's the word from the streets, staircases, hallways--
perhaps they've passed by each other a million times?

I want to ask them
if they don't remember--
a moment face to face
in some revolving door?
perhaps a "sorry" muttered in a crowd?
a curt "wrong number" caught in the receiver?
but I know the answer.
No, they don't remember.

They'd be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them
now for years.

Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.

There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn't read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago
or just last Tuesday
a certain leaf fluttered
from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and then picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished
into childhood's thicket?

There were doorknobs and doorbells
where one touch had covered another beforehand.
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night, perhaps, the same dream,
grown hazy by morning.

Every beginning
is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.”
― Wislawa Szymborska , View with a Grain of Sand: Selected Poems

“Sende, ben, kutba giden bir geminin sergüzeştini,
sende, ben, kumarbaz macerasını keşiflerin,
sende uzaklığı,
sende, ben, imkânsızlığı seviyorum.

Güneşli bir ormana dalar gibi dalmak gözlerine
ve kan ter içinde, aç ve öfkeli,
ve bir avcı iştihasıyla etini dişlemek senin.

Sende, ben, imkânsızlığı seviyorum,
fakat aslâ ümitsizliği değil...”
― Nâzım Hikmet Ran, Henüz Vakit Varken Gülüm

“Come to my city my love,
Just come tomorrow.
leave everything and come
say you have somebody waiting for you
Come, so that this city may find its meaning
with your footsteps
Come, so that I may cease to hate it.
Come , so that I may take a breath
Come...”
― Nâzım Hikmet Ran

“A dream is not a very safe thing to be near, Bayard. I know; I had one once. It’s like a loaded pistol with a hair trigger: if it stays alive long enough, somebody is going to be hurt. But if it’s a good dream, it’s worth it. There are not many dreams in the world, but there are a lot of human lives. And one human life or two dozen——” “Are not worth anything?” “No. Not anything.—Listen.”
― William Faulkner, The Unvanquished