Our Beautiful Life

--Riyad al-Salih al-Hussein (trans. S Mubayi/R Issa)

Life is beautiful

says the sparrow

and drops dead beside the hunter’s shoe

Life is beautiful

says the rose

and drops dead in the handsome boy’s palm

Life is beautiful

he says

and shoots himself in the head

Life is ugly, despicable, corrupt, evil

says the tyrant

and takes a bite from a biscuit