As a part of its continuing effort to share a portion of the literary wealth of Arabic poetry with the English reader, The Arab American News translates a poem by Egyptian poet Ahmed Fouad Negm. This week’s “Poetry Corner” is also a homage to Negm, who passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 3. 

“Build Your Castles” was written in colloquial Egyptian in the mid 1970’s. It foretells a revolution by the working class against the rulers. The poem was turned into a song by folk singer Sheikh Imam.

Build your castles on the farmland

from our hard work and hands’ labor,

Bars alongside the factories

And a prison in place of the garden.

Release your dogs 

in the streets,

And close your jail cells 

on us,

And reduce our sleep in the beds

for we

have slept all we desire,

And be heavy on us with pain

We have hurt 

And had enough,

And we have known

Who’s the reason behind our wounds

And known ourselves

And we were found.

Laborers and farmers 

and students,

Our clock has ticked,

and we have started

taking a road

with no return

and victory is near to our eyes.

Victory has drawn closer

to our hands.

— Translated from Arabic by Ali Harb