you are between me and my shadow

Leaning my shoulder to the sun, 

my face to the shadow. 

You are between me and my shadow. 

We are talking about you. 

Is that how you spare me my shadow? 

You are standing between us. 

You have forgotten though, my shadow 

is on your face. 

I am sewing a shirt for you 

from the rays of the sun. 

I am sewing a shirt for you. 

You are standing between me and the sun, 

your shadow is on the shirt I am sewing. 

I am sewing a shirt for you, 

on your shirt your shadow. 

I am sewing the shadow to your shirt. 

[Firuza Mammadli {1940- } 'Leaning My Shoulder to the Sun” {trans. from the Azeri by Shouleh Vatanabadi}, from Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia, and Beyond]