To Paul Robeson

They don't let us sing our songs, Robeson,
Eagle Singer, Negro brother,
They don't want us to sing our songs.

They are scared, Robeson,
Scared of the dawn and of seeing
Scared of hearing and touching.
They are scared of loving
The way our Ferhat loved (*).
(Surely you too have a Ferhat, Robeson, What is his name?)

They are scared of the seed, the earth
The running water and the memory of
a friend's hand
Asking no discount, no commission, no interest
A hand which has never passed like a bird in their hands.

They are scared, Negro brother,
Our songs scare them, Robeson.

(Nâzım Hikmet, New York 1954)

(*) Ferhat è il nome di un leggendario amante turco, come fosse Romeo o Tristano.