Such a Destiny

Abstract

WORLDLITERATURETODAY.ORG 27 We Shall Manage by Jale Ismayil for Rabiqe, who doesn’t like to read sad poems our teardrops will dry we shall forget even the easiest of rebellions – rebellion against God we shall forget jealousy – both you and I will leave our pride at home first of all we shall walk toward grief it will be confused by our smile it will see that it has no home in our souls – this eternal guest will forever leave us then we shall borrow thread from the Sun and embroider our red, red dresses with golden tracery we shall acquire wings and fly we shall manage to be happy: to stick out our tongues to the rain to throw a wink to the sun to wrinkle our noses at the wind – such things will occur only to us and what we could never imagine – you are the prettiest women in all the world – they will say ah, we will love, we will believe deliberately we will not ask have you seen all the women of the world? no doubt one could find those who are freer, happier – only those who are happy can create happiness – but, oh! still we shall love, my friend and still we shall be loved – madly Such a Destiny by Jale Ismayil My forehead must have been inscribed with sails – I beat against the winds. My body must have been carved from wood – the storms shudder before me. In the eyes of bulls, my friend, a crimson scarf spins a thread of fear. A single dissent, my friend, a single dissent – just the sight can bring great leaders to their knees. There once was a wide silent sea, its surface even, unrippled – I must have been its shore. Imagine a person, my friend, a person who would open her arms as wide as the world, and run straight toward her love – he would quickly buy a mouse hole in which to hide – one woman, my friend, imagine just one woman. Jale Ismayil was born in 1978 and received her graduate degree from the Baku State University School of Journalism. She has worked for several newspapers and is an editor at an advertising agency. She has published two books, one of short stories, Heykalin içindaki (2010; Stories inside a monument) and another of poetry, Birnafasa (2015; In one breath). ...