A letter to Marianne Silavic in Kosovo

In the turbulence of war
I still could hear your lament
but I don't think the generals have time to care about anything human
Remember, war always turns a deaf ear to women's cries
and robs men of their senses

Alas, my friend, in the prolonged pain
never forget to pray
because God is no spineless tyrant
and prayers will bring you a better day

I wish to take you out of your city
and bring you to my country
where we can talk, arrange flowers
and about democracy we'll converse

To the refugees from your country
I wish to offer some flowers
to be presented to the military
so it will stop being a warmonger

You might be asking:
why guns still decide human fate
while the century will soon end
I, too, still ask the same question
after a bomb exploded in a mosque in my town
while my nation started using a new makeup called reformasi
and built a new home called demokrasi

Friend,
like you,
I was once worried too
because we then lived in a similar condition
I was afraid the same war might break out in my country
after the long oppression
by the military

But friend,
in fear I still grew flowers
and never forgot to pray
because sweet fragrances only come from flowers
and prayers make you happier

By Hawa Arofah

Translated by TIS