Now and then

Sometimes

I wish

to be a whirlwind

so that I can stir your placid lake.

Yet occasionally

I only want to be

a late afternoon breeze

so that I can gently caress

its restful surface

causing birds

clouds

trees

flowers

butterflies

dragonflies

and mountains,

which the sun has taught to dress up

by using the lake as a mirror,

to create a picture

of fantastic solitude.

But every so often

I even have a dream

of becoming your lake

where fish play games,

bathing the sun and clouds

welcoming any kind of wind

and once in a while revealing

a phenomenal painting

of the universe.

However, every time

I behold your face

I suddenly get lost

as what I want to be

it's not even clear to me

who I am really

-- By A. Mustofa Bisri

- Translated by TIS