tarek chemaly
three books
2009
\_Front page
\_Strata
read
\_getting the news
  from poems
\_Archewallogy
\_Jnune 7 – 2009
\_earlier writings
(2002/2003)
(| EN | FR |)
o-----////()/---[getting the news from poems]------(| Tarek Chemaly · 2009 |)------¬ contents
Exodus 2003

Citizen (Tare)K

I am a citizen of a state of mind,
I have sought, only never to find,
I have knocked, but no one opened,
And my paths remained unopened.

Wine bottles have stamped expiry dates,
And fish got caught in hookless baits,
And will be rewarded, he who waits,
And he will walk through the gates.

Patience is a long-gone virtue,
And no one is out to hurt you,
And you might deem me insane,
Racing on an altogether separate lane.

Oh if you only knew, only knew,
How good are my intentions and true,
You said: “Stay as sweet as you are”,
But being sweet never got me far.

Do you want to share my domain?
Do you want to ride on my train?
Do you want to be here and now?
Will you let me be chairman Meow?

If you only knew how close I am,
I am available for you to take,
If you only knew what’s at stake,
And that I do give a damn!

I did not surround myself with a dam,
And I am not what you think I am,
If you think anything of me that is,
I swear this is not some sort of a quiz.

Oh love me, love me,
Or let me be, let me be,
It’s just poor little me,
Why are you so unjust with me?
15

Tarek Chemaly, “Citizen (Tare)K”, getting the news from poems (2009), p. 15.

Tarek Chemaly’s three books of 2009, published on 111101 with the author’s permission. getting the news from poems: layout Mike Awad. Archewallogy: design Farah Samman, cover Ashekman. Jnune 7 – 2009: with Rami El Khoury, Upstairs Publishing; photographs as credited on each page.