Pill Against Dreams Poem by Turki Amer

Pill against Dreams
Turki Amer

He retreats from the dream.
A quick glass of tea.
Goes out to the bread.
Holding his hope.
A kafiya that does not flutter in the wind
drapes his head
eyes blind to the path
a coat no coat
that does not defend against cold or bullets
is covered with dust.
A filterless cigarette
the lighter's last spark
wind plays with the flame.
Stale bread,
two hard-boiled eggs
and a little salt.
She forgot the cumin.
When he gets home he'll give her a piece of his mind
as always,
he reaches the checkpoint.
Waits.
The skies send no rain.
An old bullet sticks in his chest
hunger pinches him
eats the bread and the two eggs
down to the last grain of salt
and waits.
Evening descends.
The checkpoint gives a slow yawn
those who were waiting disperse
he goes home
eggless
a last cigarette
filterless
hampers his breathing,
takes a pill
against dreams
goes to sleep.

—Translated by Stephen Langfur