Abdourahman Waberi

Vanity
April 16, 2019 Waberi Abdourahman

Vanity

it’s easy to fritter your life away
bit by bit
without even being aware

I desire and deserve it all
the odd arithmetic of ignorance
I fear misfortune
with all the force of my life
yet I run toward it
mouth and arms open

the din of the herd is more ingrained
than each individual’s joy

Vanité

il est facile de dilapider sa vie
bribe par bribe
sans même s’en apercevoir

je veux tout et je vaux tout
l’étrange arithmétique de l’ignorance
je redoute le malheur
de toutes mes forces
pourtant je cours à lui
bouche et bras ouverts

le raffut du troupeau est plus antique

Abdourahman A. Waberi is a critically-acclaimed writer born in what is today the Republic of Djibouti. His work has been translated into a multitude of languages. Muslim by birth, his poetry reflects a Buddhist/spiritual approach to life. He teaches French and Francophone Literature and Creative Writing at George Washington University in Washington DC.