Your Body Journeyed Off

By Duna Ghali

Translated from Arabic by William Maynard Hutchins

In this poem, Duna Ghali navigates personal effects and carry-on luggage along physical and spiritual journeys.

April 1, 2013

Iraq

Each time I’ve approached it, my personal effects have scattered.

The smell of a journey clings to your body.
Each time I’ve approached you, I’ve packed my personal effects.

Your body becomes my carry-on bag.
I enter it
To keep from touching the earth.

Your body—
Keep your eyes fixed on mine—
Doesn’t tire of tempting me
To commit errors,
And finally I quit the earth’s domain.

Each time I’ve approached it, my personal effects have scattered.

The smell of a journey clings to your body.
Each time I’ve approached you, I’ve packed my personal effects.

Your body becomes my carry-on bag.
I enter it
To keep from touching the earth.

Your body—
Keep your eyes fixed on mine—
Doesn’t tire of tempting me
To commit errors,
And finally I quit the earth’s domain.

Born in Basra, Iraq, in 1963, Duna Ghali has lived in Denmark since 1992.

William Maynard Hutchins was born in Kentucky in 1944. His most recent publication is a translation of War and Me by Faleeha Hassan.