【Poem Reading Tuesday】Meeting at an Airport by Taha Muhammad Ali
CBA7 (2024-02-13 07:24:33) 评论 (1)Meeting at an Airport
by Taha Muhammad Ali
Translated by Peter Cole, Yahya Hijazi, and Gabriel Levin
You asked me once,
on our way back
from the midmorning
trip to the spring:
“What do you hate,
and who do you love?”
And I answered,
from behind the eyelashes
of my surprise,
my blood rushing
like the shadow
cast by a cloud of starlings:
“I hate departure . . .
I love the spring
and the path to the spring,
and I worship the middle
hours of morning.”
And you laughed . . .
and the almond tree blossomed
and the thicket grew loud with nightingales.
. . . A question
now four decades old:
I salute that question's answer;
and an answer
as old as your departure;
I salute that answer's question . . .
And today,
it's preposterous,
here we are at a friendly airport
by the slimmest of chances,
and we meet.
Ah, Lord!
we meet.
And here you are
asking—again,
it's absolutely preposterous—
I recognized you
but you didn't recognize me.
“Is it you?!”
But you wouldn't believe it.
And suddenly
you burst out and asked:
“If you're really you,
What do you hate
and who do you love?!”
And I answered—
my blood
fleeing the hall,
rushing in me
like the shadow
cast by a cloud of starlings:
“I hate departure,
and I love the spring,
and the path to the spring,
and I worship the middle
hours of morning.”
And you wept,
and flowers bowed their heads,
and doves in the silk of their sorrow stumbled.
Source: So What (Copper Canyon Press, 2006)
About the author
Taha Muhammad Ali | Poetry Foundation
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评论 (1)
ChatGPT Poem Analysis:
The poem "Meeting at an Airport" by Taha Muhammad Ali, translated by Peter Cole, Yahya Hijazi, and Gabriel Levin, is a poignant reflection on the passage of time, the enduring nature of human emotions, and the irony of chance encounters.
The poem begins with a recollection of a conversation between the speaker and someone else, likely a friend or a loved one, during a trip to a spring. The question posed, "What do you hate, and who do you love?" is simple yet profound, delving into the core of human emotions and preferences.
The speaker's response reveals a deep connection to nature and the beauty of the world around them. They express a dislike for departure, symbolizing the pain of separation and transience, while expressing a profound love for the spring, the path leading to it, and the serene moments of the morning. This response is rich with imagery, evoking feelings of longing, appreciation for nature, and a sense of reverence for the passage of time.
The poem then shifts to the present, where the speaker and the person they had conversed with decades ago unexpectedly meet again at an airport. The reunion is marked by disbelief and astonishment, emphasizing the unpredictability of life's twists and turns. The repetition of the question, "What do you hate, and who do you love?" serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring significance of the original exchange.
Despite the passage of time and the changes that have occurred, the essence of the speaker's response remains unchanged. They reiterate their feelings of love for spring and morning, and their aversion to departure. This repetition highlights the constancy of human emotions amidst the fluctuations of life.
The poem concludes with a powerful image of emotion, as the person with whom the speaker is reunited weeps, and nature seems to mourn alongside them. This final stanza reinforces the emotional depth of the encounter and the enduring impact of the original question and response.
Overall, "Meeting at an Airport" is a meditation on love, loss, and the cyclical nature of life, encapsulated within the framework of a chance encounter. Through vivid imagery and poignant reflection, the poem captures the complexity of human emotions and the enduring power of connection.
CBA7