Letter From Under The Sea

By Nizar Qabbani

If you are my friend...

Help me...to leave you

Or if you are my lover...

Help me...so I can be healed of you...

If I knew....

that the ocean is very deep...I would not have swam...

If I knew...how I would end,

I would not have began

I desire you...so teach me not to desire

teach me...

how to cut the roots of your love from the depths

teach me...

how tears may die in the eyes

and love may commit suicide

If you are prophet,

Cleanse me from this spell

Deliver me from this atheism...

Your love is like atheism...so purify me from this atheism

If you are strong...

Rescue me from this ocean

For I don't know how to swim

The blue waves...in your eyes

drag me...to the depths

blue...

blue...

nothing but the color blue

and I have no experience

in love...and no boat...

If I am dear to you

then take my hand

For I am filled with desire...from my

head to my feet

I am breathing under water!

I am drowning...

drowning...

drowning...