I had a map

I HAD A MAP
I had a map, a souvenir from school
With continents and seas and coloured countries.
A splendid world, I hardly know it now,
With happy men and peaceful smoking chimneys
And continents and seas and coloured countries.

And now I weep, our map is all in blood
The blood Cain shed, that never could be staunched,
Bringing a somber sameness to our world
And torment to us all.
And now I weep, our map is all in blood.

Cahit Sitki Taranci (1910-1956)
Translated by Bernard Lewis

Posted: 10:58 a.m. EST March 11, 2006 by me ts