By Yahya Hassan
Translated by
Jordan Barger
via the Poetry Foundation
BEARDED CREATURE IN THE REARVIEW OF THE WHIP
BEFORE YOU EVEN REACHED THE SANDHOLM CENTER
YOUR MOM WAS A PHOTOGRAPH ON THE WALL
AND AN URN PACKED WITH SLAG AND FLY ASH
WE FASTED THAT MONTH AND BOUGHT A SHEEP AT BAZAAR WEST
YOU DEPOSITED THE MONEY WE GOT FROM OUR AUNTS
AND SAID IT’S NOT DECENT
FOR A KID TO HAVE SO MUCH MONEY
BUT I AM PROUD OF YOU
AS YOU STAND THERE AND GRILL HALAL
NOT JUST A REFUGEE WITH A BIG BEARD AND TRACKSUIT
NOW A DRAGONFLY LANDS ON YOUR ARM
Translated from the Danish
A Note from the Editor
Today is the last day of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar observed worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Poet Yahya Hassan was a bestselling poet who died at the age of 24. Read Jordan Barger's translator's note on this poem.
Source: Poetry (March 2023)
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