The Kingdom Of Dogs (23) Poem by Freeyad Ibrahim

Merry Christmas

By Freeyad Ibrahim

This Christmas, I decided to visit my neighbors
in defiance, to show, to know
Remembering Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha
in our country 30 years ago
All doors are closed
The streets are empty,
above and below
Not white as usual with snow
I walked a bit by the door
Toe -and -fro
It looked like a curfew,
The space hollow
Hesitantly, I rang the first neighbor's doorbell
No one opened it
I rang again, it remained closed
I felt myself humiliated, low
I saw ghosts moving behind the window
I wished them Eid Mubarak, Merry Christmas
I gestured with my hand, waving, hey, hoy, hello
To indicate I am a friend, not a foe
All the ghosts disappeared except one
He approached jumping the window
I didn't see what it looked like clearly
Darkness, uncomfortable grotto
I shouted in Dutch Fijne Kerstdagen to him
He replied
Haw Haw,
With a small, sharp mouth
It looked like a kangaroo

*
FRYAD HUGO