I'm particularly fond of translating poems written by the brilliant Syrian author Nizar Qabani, who manages to depict a gloomy reality and turn it into an artful, yet straightforward, piece of literature. This one speaks for itself.
The original Arabic version can be found here-Part 1-
O people:
I have become your Sultan
Break your delusory idols and worship me…
I rarely come into sight…
So sit by the pavement of patience till you witness me
Leave your children without bread
Leave your women without husband.. and follow me
Thank God for his blessing
For he has sent me to write history
And history shall not be written without me
I am Joseph in my splendor
The Creator has not created golden hair like mine
Nor a prophetic forehead like mine
My eyes are forests of olives and almonds
So pray for God to protect my eyes
O people:
I am “Leila’s Mad Lover”
So send your wives to be conceived by me
Send your husbands to thank me
You are honored to eat the wheat of my body
You are honored to harvest my almond and my fig
You are honored to resemble me..
For there has been none like me
Over thousands of centuries..
(Painting by Ludwig Deutsch)