There is nothing like the voice of Fairuz in life…
There is nothing like love in life [life is meaningless without love], especially love with a big L that sadly seems to be missing in our increasingly divided societies, countries, and world.
We hear about news of imminent wars here and there (e.g., Ukraine).
We observe intolerance and authoritarianism around us.
We hopelessly watch countries in free economic fall since October 17, 2019 (i.e., Lebanon). There was no love, and surely no respect, when the theft of people’s savings, pensions, and dreams took place over decades. There is still no respect as nothing serious seems to be undertaken yet, by Lebanon’s political leaders, to start re-dressing the tragic situation.
In other places, including Canada, is there still room for love in our hearts to grow in it, hopefully bloom, and from there be transmitted to others who share humanity (+ citizenship) with us? Bambi is asking and thinking of ALL others, especially those we do not want to truly listen to and respect their different perspectives. Why should we dismiss them, vilify them, and perceive them as traitors simply because they do not share our own opinions?
Bambi is saying the above in general, that is regardless of the political topic of the day (now, it may be this issue… Tomorrow, it would be another subject).
Why are we allowing ourselves to be divided to that extent?
Why should our hearts be that far apart? Why don’t we simply re-commit to Love again?
Anyhow, Bambi will stop her blahblahblaha now (out of love for your eyes, ears, and time!). Below you can read the lyrics of the song in both English and Arabic, if you wish.
Thank you Fairuz! Thank you Gibran Khalil Gibran!
Gibran Khalil Gibran (1883-1931)’s poetry on love from The Prophet (a poem, available publicly, taken from (https://poets.org/poem/love-8
“Then said Almitra, Speak to us of Love.
And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:
When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself
He threshes you to make your naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.
But if in your heart you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.”
Arabic lyrics now…
2. المحبة…
حينئذٍ قالت المترا: حدثنا عن المحبة.
فقال:
إذا المحبة أومت إليكم فاتبعوها,
وإن كانت مسالكها صعبة متحدرة.
إذا ضمتكم بجناحيها فأطيعوها,
وإن جرحكم السييف المستور بين ريشها.
إذا المحبة خاطبتكم فصدقوها,
وإن عطل صوتها أحلامكم وبددها كما تجعل الريح الشمالية البستان قاعاً صفصفاً.
***
لأنه كما أن المحبة تكللكم, فهي أيضا تصلبكم.
وكما تعمل على نموكم, هكذا تعلمكم وتستأصل الفاسد منكم.
وكما ترتفع إلى أعلى شجرة حياتكم فتعانق أغصانها اللطيفة المرتعشة أمام وجه الشمس,
هكذا تنحدر إلى جذورها الملتصقة بالتراب وتهزها في سكينة الليل.
***
المحبة تضمكم إلى قلبها كأغمار حنطة.
المحبة على بيادرها تدرسكم لتظهر عريكم.
المحبة تغربلكم لتحرركم من قشوركم.
المحبة تطحنكم فتجعلكم كالثلج أنقياء.
المحبة تعجنكم بدموعها حتى تلينوا,
ثم تعدكم لنارها المقدسة, لكي تصيروا خبزاً مقدساً يقرّب على مائدة الرب المقدسة.
كل هذا تصنعه بكم لكي تدركوا أسرار قلوبكم, فتصبحوا بهذا الإدراك جزءاً من قلب الحياة.
غير أنكم إذا خفتم, وقصرتم سعيكم على الطمأنبنة واللذة في المحبة.
فالأجدر بكم أن تستروا عريكم وتخرجوا من بيدر المحبة إلى العالم البعيد حيثما تضحكون, ولكن ليس كل ضحككم; وتبكون, ولكن ليس كل ما في ماقيكم من الدموع.
المحبة لا تعطي إلا ذاتها, المحبة لا تأخذ إلا من ذاتها.
لا تملك المحبة شيئاً, ولا تريد أن أحد يملكها.
لأن المحبة مكتفية بالمحبة.
***
أما أنت إذا أحببت فلا تقل: “أن الله في قلبي”, بل قل بالأحرى: “أنا في قلب الله”.
ولا يخطر لك البتة أنك تستطيع أن تتسلط على مسالك المحبة, لأن المحبة إن رأت فيك استحقاقاً لنعمتها, تتسلط هي على مسالكك.
والمحبة لا رغبة لها إلا في أن تكمل نفسها.
ولكن, إذا أحببت, وكان لا بد من أن تكون لك رغبات خاصة بك, فلتكن هذه رغباتك:
أن تذوب وتكون كجدول متدفق يشنف آذان الليل بأنغامه.
أن تخبر الآلام التي في العطف المتناهي.
أن يجرحك إدراكك الحقيقي للمحبة في حبة قلبك, وأن تنزف دماؤك وأنت راض مغتبط.
أن تنهض عند الفجر بقلب مجنح خفوق, قتؤدي واجب الشكر ملتمساً يوم محبة آخر.
أن تستريح عند الظهيرة وتناخي نفسك بوجد المحبة.
أن تعود إلى منزلك عند المساء شاكراً: فتنام حينئذ والصلاة لأجل من أحببت تتردد في قلبك, وأنشودة الحمد والثناء مرتمسة على شفتيك.
Let’s follow Love’s call. A beautiful poem by Khalil Gibran, beautifully sung by Fairuz. Yes, love is joy and laughter, but it is also weeping. It is ecstasy, but also pain and pruning. It’s full of play, but also a serious commitment. It’s a call to growth. It gives you everything you desire, but it comes with a price. To forsake selfishness and to gain your own self, now purified of the chaff and husks, in the sacred fire of Holy Love.
So well said… Thank you, Achim.