Cinema Poem by Mustafa Stitou

in a time
of all-consuming drought
in a time
when a farmer does his sums
takes straw to a car
abandoned on his land

father leaves as a child
with his uncle the deserter
for nine pesetas in the back
of the camiona - armpits
off the metal - going to Tetouan,
tiny Tetouan with its reliable souk

in the rigour of the mosque's austerity
they pray sluggish and sighing
after jobs in gnawing sun
drink water from the water seller
with the sad grin and cool off
in the Spanish cinema with sunflower seeds

it rained in the movie
Allah el Akbar it rained
rain rain rain and I thought
rain was falling everywhere outside
evokes Father fidgeting
with the remote control

outside
stone trembles
wind melts
lips harden to beaks
and people die
that sun-drenched summer

Translation: 2005, David Colmer