MY FATHER
When my father was still alive,
One night I went to him, with a heart full of questions.
I said “Father, others say that we are immigrants,
And that we are without a land, soil and nest.”

Where are our aunts, our cousins?
Where are our yards, our branches?
I’ll kiss both your hands,
Didn’t we have our apples and cherries?

My father said “Come here my dear daughter.
I’m an old man of 78 years.
Who’s ever seen an man with an earring.
Who’s ever seen an old lady with an anklet?”

Life goes on just like yesteryears.
We the emigrant birds, we immigrate as always.

I said father “I’ve never been to my homeland.
I’ve never seen the snow of February,
The long nights, the fairy tale tales.
I’ve never played five stones and marbles.”

Like strangers in the presence of others,
Without a friend, a loved one or a lover.
Not a day without any fear or questions,
Did I become the guest of anyone.

He took my hands into his hands,
And said “He whom is an immigrant, he is both poor and woeful.
Who’s ever seen an man with an earring.
Who’s ever seen an old lady with an anklet?”

Life goes on just like yesteryears.
We the emigrant birds, we immigrate as always.


Kurdish
BAVÊ'M

Dema bavê min hîn sax bû
Şevek ez çûm cem, dil bi pirs bû
Min got bavo xelk dibên hûn mihacir in
Bê ax û qad û bê mal in

Ka metên me, pismamên me
Ka rez û dehl û darên me
Radimûsim herdû destên te
Qey tune bû sêv û gêlasên me

Bavê min got wer keçkoka min
Ez kalekî heftê û heşt sal im
Got kê dîtiye kalê bi guhar
Kê dîtiye pîra bi xirxal

Emir diçe weke par û pêrar
Em teyrên xerîb koç dikin hercar

Min got bavo qet neçûme welat
Nedîtime qet berfa sibat
Şevên dirêj, çîrokên civat
Nelîstim pêncok û xar û kaf

Ber derê xelqê weke xerîb
Bê dost û yar û bê hebîb
Rojek bê tirs û bê pirsan
Nebûm mêvana ap û xalan

Destê min girt, xist destên xwe
Got yê koçber , feqir û jar e
Got kê dîtiye kalê bi guhar
Kê dîtiye pîra bi xirxal

Emir diçe weke par û pêrar
Em teyrên xerîb koç dikin hercar