Alive in Exile, Dead in Exile
for the murdered poet Jusuf Gërvalla

When the poet sets out for his homeland,
Pirates will rob him on his way,
And cast him naked into the sea.
Clad in purple
He will trade greetings with the anglers on the shore.

When the poet sets out for his homeland,
Policemen and agents will fret,
The senate will often assemble at night.
When the poet sets out for his homeland,
Girls will plait their hair,
Dashing heroes will don their arms,
Old men and children will unfold handkerchiefs.

When the poet sets out for his homeland,
Oh Land of Home,
He will never reach it alive.

[Syrgjyn gjallë e syrgjyn vdekur, from the volume Të qenët të mosqenë, Prishtina: Rilindja, 1990, p. 38. Translated from the Albanian by Robert Elsie]