IN PRAISE OF ALI is one of Charbel Baini's books translated by from Arabic by Naji Mourad, Joseph G. Yamouni, Elias Shaanin
Showing posts with label Psalm 16. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 16. Show all posts

Psalm 16

-1-

Expatriation means tears,

And my homeland is far.

Oh Ali..

Portray my return,

My days have never known happiness,

Nor my tears cessation.

-2-

My past remains not..

And the present incapable

Of healing,

I am dissatisfied

As an expatriate,

Tell me something to console me.

-3-

“Homeland is where you’re happy..”

What are you saying!?

Oh Ali..

Your words are a fountain of joy,

Improving our way of thinking.

-4-

“Homeland is where you reside..”

Oh Ali..

Elaborate further;

“.. A land whose boundaries are unknown,

Is tiny,

Size irrespective.”

-5-

And expatriation?

“.. Expatriation is being isolated

From God,

From a brother

Whose existence you denied.

The faithful expatriate,

In heaven itself.

Defines his homeland’s boundaries.”

-6-

Does that mean I live it?

“.. A life of piety,

God abandons no one.

Without him,

You’re deemed worthless,

Your faith is the homeland.”

-7-

And my soil?

“.. Your soil is mortgaged,

Since the inception of time

And all ‘THAT’

Which you have saved,

Is insufficient

To discharge such mortgage.”

-8-

Oh Ali..

You ease my mind

Through the words

Which exalted God,

You’ve expanded my horizons,

To inhabit this whole world.

**