A love song to Australia is one of Charbel Baini's books translated by Paul Abdul Ahad

UNEMPLOYED

-1-

Dragging his feet and scared

He is not used to begging

Has not seen or stepped into (C.E.S.)

He created a space

Between him and this place

-2-

He's Lebanese

Who's picked his sweat

Spent his expatriation painstaking

And hard work

I saw him standing anxious

I asked

He delayed with the answer

- I'm just asking for a job

I feel like I've been out of my body for long time

Living silently

The factories became sick of my face

The sun is too bored to share my morning

I want a job, any job

To help me

And my family to survive

Jobless

Unemployed

This encumbrance is killing me

Heavier than money's needs

-3-

.. They called him

And tears came out of his shy eyes

Death, he said

But do not Say

Move it, don't be lazy