Brats of Hierapolis

I know, Maria, that there is a child inside you, and that children fear bullets and love their mothers’ breasts, but I have nothing for you but two arms, defenseless in the face of all this sorrow. I also know that you love roses, but my garden no longer grows anything but thorns. Since the day they came, they have destroyed the trees, silenced the music, and swept our laughter from the streets. They confiscated our present, but I saved some of my stories. I hid them for you. I knew you would come. I knew you would leave. And that I, too, would leave, so I entrusted them to you: My father’s infatuation with Samira Tawfiq and my mother’s jealousy of her. Walid Abu Jahash, who stole a nightingale from me when I was a child and then stole my wings when I was an adult. Jumaa al-Hameemati and his captivating gypsy girls. Urwa, who was always late for his dreams… My city is a story in your care now. I deposited my heart in your eyes while you were leaving, waiting for a whistle to announce the end of this absurdity. I know, Maria, that inside you there is a little girl, and children fear bullets and love their mothers' chests. But all I have to offer you to face all this sorrow are two isolated arms. I also know that you love flowers, but my garden no longer grows anything but thorns. Since the day they came, they shattered the trees, silenced the music, and swept our laughter off the streets. They seized our present, but I saved some of my stories. I hide them for you. I knew you would come. I knew you would leave. And I, too, will leave, so I entrust them to you: The story of my father's passion for Samira Tawfiq and my mother's jealousy of her. The story of Walid Abu Jhash, who stole my nightingale when I was a child and then took away my wings when I became older. The story of Jum'a Al-Himaymati and his enchanting gipsy girls. The story of Awrah, who was always late for his dreams... My city is a story entrusted to you now. I left my heart in your eyes as you departed, waiting for a whistle to announce the end of this tampering.