Translation by Sinéad Morrissey

English version by Sinéad Morrissey,
based on a literal translation from the Arabic by Mbarek Sryfi

O Goethe Master of Poets
from the most Westerly land of the East have I sung in praise
of the glass you raised to happiness under a grapevine
and saw goodness in all things blossom

Alone at the bar, strangers everywhere,
the waiter is filling my glass with wine
glass after glass
and I bless this inner welling bliss
which shows me the West, the West you distilled to its literal essence

You have become me –
Today I see you, flickering revenant,
looking down at me from the whirl of your ascension
the two of us bound by the self-same dream,
together entranced by the spell your ink cast
when waywardness and drunkenness remained steadfast
sparks flying upwards

Yes, I’ll raise your light-filled glass
These damaged days, I have no other choice but this
as if my thirst to be one with you could set down a path
from West to East place in my hands the intoxicating glass
carry me far from the stupidity of hate
glorify everything that makes me carry on living

In this time of hardship, truth bickered over by despots,
with the water of love shall I wash the soul
clean of all profanity

So welcome, glass of ruby-jewelled wine!
From this glass will I drink in praise of love
night after night will I faithfully strive
to praise those amongst the host of poets
who sang for the land – as it once was and ever shall be –
the poets’ mother country

I, the drunk –
I see the wondrous unknown shining
on a silence that cocks its head and beckons
In the spaces between us, infinity opens
This my faith, this my happiness