My heart is a caravan

Laden with the treasures of cross roads

Do not stop this caravan on its way

Don't imprison my heart

You arrested my step

And desecrated my freedom

You offer nothing

In exchange

Of my thousand beautiful languages

You comprehend

None

But you block the paths I am crossing

By the right of my birth

You turned the earth into a prison

You separated my two hands

But I know not borders

And not boundaries' slavery

I'm a bird in the skies

And my heart is a nomad

Leave me but desert and sea

For I crave nothing

You own

And I shall be a star of heaven

A grain of sand on the earth

My feet kissed

And a glowing smile

On its surface

The crescend's entranced sickle

Above Rub'a Al Khali

That white prophetess

The vibrant Sahel moon

The feverish heart beat of my hungry beloved

The Sahara

And the Fire Mountains aglow

With the stirring word of Allah

Let my soul climb Mount Hira

Let it recall Bahira's stark

Dazzling voice

Let me pour out my longing

Into the waves of the sea

My soul sings of Suakin

Of Haifa and Adan

Of Nouakchott and Tombouctou

Of Mogadishu and Asmara

And of the sea's pearl Daar-as-Salam

Which I saw from afar

Navigating the stars on their way

Across the sea and desert paths

On which I made my home

My heart has no

Address

Do not imprison this heart

Do not cut off

My caravan's road

For my heart is a nomad

But tell me

By Allah:

What are you?