Questions and Answers

"My friend, in what state is your glorious city today?"
"God be blessed, it's the same as it was in Noah's day."
"Have you new schools for the young- of your country to learn in?"
"No, we've only Madrassahs, which stand since the year Adam was born in."
"Do the citizens in your land read newspapers every day?"
"Some literate madmen do, but I don't, I must say."
"Now tell me, my friend, are there libraries in your town?"
"Young people opened a few, but we turned them upside-down."
"Are the hungry helped in your country by other men?"
"God sees their sufferings himself—why should we help them, then?"
''Do you take care of widows and women that are in need?"
"To the devil with them—can't they marry again, indeed?"
"Is the need for unity talked about in your land?"
"Yes, it is, but for eloquence's sake, you must understand."
"Is the nation split into shiites and sunnites still?"
"What do you mean? For such words, young man, you ought to be killed."
"Well, there is nothing else I can say to you, so good-bye."
"Good riddance! I wish you to fall in a pit and die!
"Just look at him! Look at his face—what a loathsome sight!
"The way he talks! Why, he can't even put his cap on right!"

Translated by Dorian Rottenberg

POETRY:
Thanksgiving
Ploughman
To the workers of Baku
The Odd Sneese