The Near Stranger
He was a clear cup, they drank
he was a round of bread, they ate
he was the red and white garment of the gypsies
the rot of their robes
they covered well with his pieces
he came to you without scales.
O capital of the blood-stained century
O cold wound
what have you done to him ...
Machine translation from the Persian
Original Persian
قریب غریب
Sunlight, Moonlight
او جام صافی بود نوشیدند
او قرص نانی بود خوردند
او جامه ی سرخ و سپید کولیان بود
پوسیدگی های رداشان را
با تکه هایش خوب پوشاندند
او بی ترازو سوی تو آمد .
ای پایتخت قرن خون آلود
ای زخمی سردی
با او چه کردی ...