824 | I CAN’T LOVE YOU

Painting by Frans Minnaert, collection Ithaca Foundation

I Can’t Love You 

I feel your beautiful heart,

And I can sense all the romantic stars of the night,

But I can’t love you

Because I am a man of sand,

Knowing only dryness.

Yes, I hear your sweet voice,

And I see your beautiful face,

But I can’t love you

Because I am a yellow man,

Bearing only sorrow.

Believe me,

I have immersed myself

in every wonderful moment with you,

And I can smell the fragrance of sea flowers,

But I can’t love you

Because I am merely the heartless remnants of a war.

Anwer Ghani, Iraq