Sharif S. Elmusa: Only Flogged

For Ashraf Fayadh, a Palestinian poet sentenced in Saudi Arabia.

Rejoice

Our dear poet

Was re-tried

By a tolerant judge

And won’t be

Beheaded

Only jailed

For 8 years

Only flogged

800 lashes

And not all at once

They will be dispensed

In standard doses

Of 50 lashes

Red tattoos

On the lyrical body

An organic cure

For delusions

In standard doses

Of 50 lashes

A recurrent infliction

Of pain

The way the good books

Picture Hell

Rejoice

Our dear Ashraf

Will be only jailed

Only flogged.

—

Copyright 2016 Sharif S. Elmusa. First published in Mada Masr.

Sharif S. Elmusa