My Heart Beats in Deutschland (Frankfurt Book Fair, 2004)

My heart beats in Deutschland As no place else Fröhlich, carefree Overlooking Rhineland Apfel Blüten cling to my hair To my nostrils I roll hinunter in grass Scabs on meine Beine Tell of where I’d been Scaling der Fels Or climbing up A large cherry tree Finding the beautiful Welt Where einsam und langsam Wir kommen zusammen In a lifetime Fest Ich, das Kind, und die Poesie

To Annagun I always knew I’d find you someday, dear friend of my fondest childhood memories. All the time I was growing up, every cherry tree reminded me of your Bad Godesberg garden, and my legs itched to beat you to its top. Pajama & pancake parties was our invention, as was the sign-language we devised when our teacher made us sit apart in class. Once, in London, I thought I caught a glimpse of you in a crowd. And then again, a decade later, at a shopping center in Paris. Both our fathers were diplomats; you could have settled anywhere! But you chose to come back. Finding you here, where my childhood lingers, is perfect. The beloved Deutschland, that preserved it for me, now also gives me back my long-lost friend. And it is here that our laughter is heard once more, joined by that of husbands and children who get a brief glimpse of the kids we once were. We knew all there was to know about each other when we were ten. Now, so many decades later, how do we make up for lost time? You write me letters, I give you my latest book of poetry. We spend week after week reading about each other’s lives. You tell me that you kept going back to certain poems, smiling at times or teary-eyed. My poetry is my diary, and you come to know what went on with my life in the time we were lost to each other. Now, dear Annagun, I present you with a collection I’ve put together in honor of our friendship. At ten years of age, an Arab and a Scandinavian in Germany are just two kids. Now, as middle-aged adults, we are influenced by our culture and our past. I am thankful for having had a good life, but as an Arab, it hasn’t been easy. This collection will help many people understand why. When you bridged the time-gap, it was as if we never lost track of one another. As for a ‘cultural-gap,’ I know it doesn’t exist between friends. I also know that whenever two strangers reach out to each other, they begin to bridge all gaps. This is the bridge:

Wilkommen to Frankfurt! Meine Äffin (Childhood poem: ‘My Monkey’) Als ich war in Indien Ich war sehr klein Und hatte eine Äffin Die Äffin war meine Sie hiess Lucy Und war sehr klein und süss Und immer mit den Händen Nahm sie eine Nuss Die Zeit ist jetzt vorbei Als Lucy war klein und braun Die Zeit ist jetzt vorbei Als sie gesessen auf dem Baum Die Zeit ist jetzt vorbei Als wir waren klein Die Zeit ist jetzt vorbei Als Lucy war mein... Bad Godesberg, 1963 I Remember You When life is born again When the grass is green When the flowers open When fresh dew is seen I remember you… When the leaves drop When the winds howl When the flowers tremble And bend to the ground I remember you… When the clouds open When the sun is born When the breezes lift In the early morn I remember you… When the rain sprinkles When the sky is gray When the moon descends When night meets day I remember you…