The One You Accidentally Found in the Mirror
Translated from Arabic by Fady Joudah
The one you accidentally found in the mirror
in its dark corner to be exact
was there alone thinking of you
befriending your solitude
The one, because you are in need of company no more,
you called out of his darkness and fed
with your hands
You used to call him and he’d come
point to him and he’d jump to his feet
and as soon as you’d turn your back he’d unload on you
his hyena stare before returning to his corner
Now you recall all this
since you must pass a long time here
staring at the mirror
at its dark corner to be exact
as he sits in your chair
feeds you with his own hands
and passes you some water
calls to you
and you come
