Poetry Week #2

For this weeks poetry blog I submit an Egyptian Love Poem.

If I Am Not With You, Where Will You Set Your Heart?

If I am [not] with you, where will you set your heart?
If you do [not] embrace [me], [where will you go?]
If good fortune comes your way, [you still cannot find] happiness.
But if you try to touch my thighs and breast,
[Then you'll be satisfied.]

Because you remember you are hungry
would you then leave?
Are you a man
thinking only of his stomach?
Would you [walk off from me
concerned with] your stylish clothes
and leave me the sheet?

Because of hunger
would you then leave me?
[or because you are thirst?]
Take then my breast:
for you its gift overflows.
Better indeed is one day in your arms....
than a hundred thousand [anywhere] on earth.


I just love this poem. I think it is thick with rich imagery; you can easily make a meal on one stanza alone! I am exceptionally partial to the second stanza. It is too obvious to assume that the author means hunger for food alone. In this case, I think that the "hunger" mentioned is for another person, someone new, different and therefore, exciting. I think almost everyone has experienced both sides of this poem: loving another person to oblivion (and it isn't returned) or being loved by another and not responding in the way that they want, i.e. returning their love.

Yes, this is a love poem in my opinion. I for some reason would infer that a woman wrote this, however, I think that upon further consideration, a man could have also easily written this. It is my personal bias that a woman would be more likely to pour her heart out and love a man (only to have it not returned) than visa versa. This does make for a slanted reading of this poem. There are indicators that this could have been written from a male perspective about a woman. Namely the line that references "stylish clothes". The words "thigh" and "breast" are indeed woman inclined as these are two highly sexually charged female terms, however, they can be viewed gender neutral. If it were to say "breasts" plural, then I would say that the speaker is female. I feel that it is nearly impossible to ascertain for certain the gender of the speaker, and this adds mystery to the poem. It allows for multiple readings and interpretations. I chose to read it, (because of current events in my life) from the place of "the speaker is a woman, she wants this man, she's in love with him, and it seems he isn't as interested in her as she'd like." I read this poem as this was her way of speaking her true hearts feelings to him in the hope of winning him over.

I especially enjoy the line "If I am not with you, where will you set your heart?" I love the gentle image this evokes. I like that the speaker is wise--material possessions will not bring happiness. Though, the speaker does seem a little full of themself--that carnal fulfillment will make that person satisfied! I definitely delight in this idea!

This poem inspires me. It is hard to pin point why. I just absolutely love the yearning that this poem embodies. I like every single line. Each line serves a purpose. The poem feels complete, unified and is very persuasive. I ask, who in there right mind would dare leave this speaker? They emote such passion, you'd have to be a fool to walk away and leave them just the sheet.

This is my response to the above poem:

If I Am Not With You, Where Will You Seek Your Comfort?

If I am not with you, where will you seek your comfort?
If you do not lay beside me, where do you sleep?
If you are happy with the days events, you have no one to share it with.
But if you just reach out for my hands
I promise you'll be mollified.

Because you are bored or lonely
would you look elsewhere?
Are you a man
thinking only of his next conquest?
Would you walk away from me
without asking your questions
and leave me holding the ball?

Because of distance
would you then leave me?
or because I am not enough?
Take then my heart:
for you its gift overflows.
Better one moment spent in your arms...
than a hundred thousand anywhere on earth.