The Voyage At daybreak we descend to our sheltered harbors And the ships with their sails unfurled depart. we call out: O beloved sea, Close to us as these eyelids to our eyes ! We come alone, choosing to venture forth, While our comrades, behind those mountains, choose to slumber on. Our shepherds have told us O islands in love with danger And hanting sloth and caution; Of islands wrestling with fate, Planting, with tooth and nail, cities in the desert, And letters of light encoding histories To fill mens eyes eith wonder. Of them, and their magic color, the great dream while young. Then we embark on the ships, Laden with glass and pinewood, With silk and fruit and wines, We call out: O ships ! O upward-bearing ladder ! Bringing us precious treasure and bearing out finery in return ! O ships ! We have come to you alone . Our comrades, there in the desert, chose to remain At the mercy of heat and croaking boredom. While we choose to voyage. Our mountain shepherds have told us Of islands drenched in clouds, in lavender and rain, Of islands that know no boredom. Of them, and their magic color, the great dream while young. Before we set sail we slaughter sheep, One for Astarte, one for Adonis And one for baal. Them from the seabed We haul in the iron anchor And begin our voyage. Halleluja ! Halleluja ! An instant, and there vanish from our sight The mountains, The shepherd meadows, The land brimming over with flowers. Halleluja ! Halleluja ! Halleluja ! We begin our voyage And the tale of struggle, of triumph and homecoming. .............................................................................Yusuf al Khal
Posted on: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 10:47:31 +0000
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