To Those Who Are Returning

This poem was written by a prisoner during his captivity in Guantánamo Bay. It was confiscated from the author soon after he wrote it and was not returned to him until the day of his release. He subsequently sang these words in a Nashid which he dedicated to Muslim prisoners all over the world



للأيبين إلى الديار بحرقةٍ *** و القلب يخفق مسرعا كشعاع
To those who are returning to their homes (after the prison) *** and their hearts are beating at the speed of light

وعقاربُ الساعات تجري لاهثة *** و الموعد المنشود قيد ذراع
And the clockwise are running out of breath *** and the waiting day is but an arm’s length away

وحبستَ دمعك في الجفون تصبّرا *** فانهار سدّ الجفن بعد صراع
And you imprisoned your tears in your eyelids patiently *** and the dam of your eyelids collapsed after resisting with tears of joy

وتصدّأ القيد بدمعك مذ أسرت *** و حان ليّه ليةَ المنصاع
The handcuffs rusted because of your tears, and the age you spent in prison *** and now the handcuffs are ready to break

و تآكلت قضبان ظلم مزقت *** أجساد أحباب بكل بقاع
And the prison bars corroded that bar that tears your lover’s bodies.

و ركلت زَيَّ الأسر بالرجلين كي *** تكسى ثياب الحر بالأصقاع
And you kicked away the uniform of the prison *** so now you shall wear the clothes of free men

و نفرت بالأمس بخيل الخفية *** و اليوم عدت بصرخة المذياع
And yesterday you went with the horse of the disappeared *** and today you return with the scream of the radio.

و كما ابتليت من العداة لما ترى *** فاليوم تسدى ضمة الاضلاع
And as you faced torture from your enemy *** today you are greeted with a warm embrace

أتراك عند النأي هل تقوى على *** فُرقى شقيق عاش وسط ضباع
But I am asking you: on your day of release *** can you leave your brother behind you with Hyenas?

فبما ستفصح إن قبضت أكف من *** قد ذكروك بكل نجل شجاع
What can you say if you shake the hands of those who remind you of every brave son?

أهل البسيطة قد تجمع شملهم *** يا مرحى بالصقر أسير تداع
The whole world today has gathered to welcome the captive falcon held [for so long] in a great conspiracy.

ابشر فتيّ العظم بالنصر الذي *** قد ساقه يسرا سميع الدّاعي
Tidings o young one for the deliverance that comes unto you from the Hearer of Prayers.

كادت ثياب العلج تحرق إذ رآك *** و قد رجعت بأعرك الأوضاع
The jailer’s clothes almost ignited in the worst way with envy after he saw you released.

رفع المهيمن ذكركم بين الورى *** و الخصم أنتن صاغرا بالقاع
The Protector elevated your name throughout the world *** while the foe was stricken with a lowly foul stench.

لو بيعت الأفراح كنت بها إذاً *** شيخ التجارة منية الطماع
If happiness could be sold, you would be the richest person in the world *** while the merchant of greed would meet his demise

by Abu Sulayman al-Bahrayni, former Guantánamo Prisoner

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