Lion in an Iron Cage / Nâzım Hikmet

Look at the lion in the iron cage,
look deep into his eyes:
like two naked steel daggers
they sparkle with anger.

But he never loses his dignity
although his anger
comes and goes
goes and comes.


You couldn't find a place for a collar
round his thick, furry mane.
Although the scars of a whip
still burn on his yellow back
his long legs
stretch and end
in the shape of two copper claws.
The hairs on his mane rise one by one
around his proud head.
His hatred
comes and goes
goes and comes ...


The shadow of my brother on the wall of the dungeon
moves
up and down
up and down.