My Heart is Opening and Closing

(Written in 1965)

My heart is opening and closing
Like the door
of an abandoned cottage
on a windy autumn day.

I’m drawing the sketches
of my days with my finger
on the dusty window glass
of the world.

My God, please,
At least, stroke my head.

Vagif Samadoghlu, born in Azerbaijan in 1939, is a jazz pianist who pursued literarature. He was named Azerbaijan's National poet in 1999. His first volume of poetry, Song to the Sun while Sitting in Darkness, was translated into English and published in September 2014. An extended bio, as well as a free download of Song to the Sun is here. Read other articles by Vagif.