Life by Morteza Miraftabi

Translated from Persian by: Mahnaz Badihian

Every morning I wake up
With death next to me
Or in the middle of night
Death is in a window ,a mirror
Or a doorway shoulder to 
Shoulder with me watches last night’s rain

Death so kindly smiles at me
Breakfast with Death
A few cups of tea and honey with it
A piece of bread

Death whistles at me
Sings poems to me and I tell him 
Of my dreams

From the first day of school
Death does not question me 
Listens
We go out together
We ride together
We visit old streets

Death gives ride to a little girl
Which is the most beautiful child 
On earth. 
We pedal to the mountain creeks
Death reads a poem
Death whistles
Death jokes
Death sings
Rivers, trees, bushes
Become alert and
Night talks to me from me to me.

Death drinks wine
Empties all the glasses.
We are drunk, very drunk
And fall sleep in each other’s arm 
Oh,
At night the world is so beautiful
In the arms of Death.