IN PRAISE OF ALI is one of Charbel Baini's books translated by from Arabic by Naji Mourad, Joseph G. Yamouni, Elias Shaanin

Psalm 19

-1-

Threats..

They cast at my doorstep

Claws of poisonous daggers,

Intending to obliterate the feast,

Its goodness sowed

In my woes,

Oh woes!

Sprinkle promises,

For the dream

Approaching from afar.

And arise,

Oh my dreams,

And be fulfilled.

-2-

They said:-

“You’re an insane poet..

Your pen drips libertine,

Which poisons people’s minds

With doubts..

You replaced their faith

With denunciation,

Either subdue

The tone of your voice,

Or we shall subdue

Your voice with death.”

-3-

They said:-

“You insulted the religions,

Which were sent to earth by God..

You jumbled the haphazardly,

And disrupted the serenity of man,

Who weaved his life with faith,

And imposed it on mankind.

…you blinded his eyes with hatred.”

-4-

They told me:-

“Shut up and be silent,

Your tongue is a snake,

Your words are venom,

Your poems are against theology,

Benevolence and peace,

They lack logic and culture,

No sooner are they uttered,

They are forgotten,

Inter then within you,

Without a coffin.”

-5-

They said and repeated

Many things,

They denied all my words,

Oh Ali,

For having caused people

To melt in God’s love,

In religious identities

Who visited mankind,

And inspired it towards achieving

Everlasting bliss,

In his heavenly kingdom.

**