The Walls of the Holy City (أسوار البلدة المقدّسة)
By Ameer Hamad
Translated by Gabrielle Alvarez
Boredom stopped me at the gate of the Holy City
I wanted to enter from all its gates at the same time
but did not succeed. I decreased the number each time, uselessly
I stood bewildered waiting for a glimmer in the wing of a dove
and when I was convinced to enter through the largest gate,
the rest of the gates came before me… and locked me out.
Special Section: ‘To the Students of Columbia University’