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# 'Abd al-Hadi Fights the Big Superpower
- URL: https://www.merip.org/1990/05/abd-al-hadi-fights-the-big-superpower/
- Published: 1990-05-04T23:13:41.000Z
- Updated: 1990-05-04T23:13:41.000Z
- Description: Never in his life Did he read or write. Never did he fell a tree Or stab a cow. Never did he talk about the New York Times Behind its back. Never did he raise his voice to anyone Except to say: “Welcome! Tafaddal! By God, I won’t take no for an answer!” And in spite of all this? His case is hopeles
- Author: Taha Muhammad Ali
- Tags: #Articles, MER Article, Poetry, #wp, #wp-post, #Article, Issue 164-165

Never in his life  
Did he read or write.  
Never did he fell a tree  
Or stab a cow.  
Never did he talk about the *New York Times*   
Behind its back.  
Never did he raise his voice to anyone  
Except to say:  
“Welcome! *Tafaddal!*   
By God, I won’t take no for an answer!”

And in spite of all this?  
His case is hopeless.  
His situation is desperate,  
And his rights nothing but a grain of salt  
That fell into the ocean.

Gentlemen!  
My client knows nothing about his enemy.  
And I promise you  
That if he had bumped into the *Star Trek* crew  
He would have served them fried eggs  
And fresh *labna*, straight from the dripping linen bag.

—*Translated by Smadar Lavie and Anton Shammas* \[from *Mifgash/Liqa’* 2 (1985)\]