Abbas' Story Poem by Ahmed Matar

Abbas behind the barricades
Alert, awake, attentive
Since the years of the Islamic conquests he has been polishing his sword
And his mustache also, waiting clutching his teddybear
A thief swallowed one part of the country
Abbas was at a loss
Abbas was at sixes and sevens
(The other part of the country remained)
Abbas gathered his ammunition and his barricade
And went on polishing his sword
The thief crossed over to him and entered his home
(Now he was his guest)
Abbas served him coffee, and went on polishing his sword
Abbas' wife cried: "Your children are dead, Abbas
Your guest is harassing me, Abbas
Come and save me, Abbas."
Abbas - the awake, the attentive - alertly heard nothing
(His wife is a gossip).
His wife cried: "Abbas, the guest is stealing our sheep."
Abbas was at a loss, Abbas was at sixes and sevens,
He sent a threatening letter
"So why polish your sword, Abbas?"
(For times of need)
Then go on polishing your sword, Abbas.