Beirut is burning in fire, and I love you
By Forough Amin
6 August , 2024
Today, international news agencies broadcast scenes from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, showing hundreds of people waiting to board flights and flee Lebanon.
Suspensions and cancellations of international flights due to the imminent attack by Iran on Israel have left many people, including children, sitting or lying on the ground at the airport for hours with their luggage around them.
Watching these scenes and thinking of beautiful Beirut, once called the ‘Mistress of the World’, reminded me of Nizar Qabbani, the famous Syrian poet, and his poems for Beirut.
In one of these poems written during Lebanon’s Civil War, titled “Beirut is Burning in Fire and I Love You,” he captures the city’s turmoil and enduring spirit.
بیروت می‌سوزد و من تو را دوست دارم
1978
He describes Beirut’s airport as if he is present now and watching these scenes:
When the homeland ran away from the homeland
and children at Beirut International Airport
They were sleeping on their toys
When their fathers’ bags full of tears
They were weighing
وقتی وطن از وطن می گریختو کودکان در فرودگاه بین المللی بیروت
بر روی اسباب بازی هاشان خوابیده بودند
وقتی که پدرانشان کیف های پر از اشکشان را
وزن می کردند
و مجبور بودند برای هر کیلو اشک اضافه
و هر کیلو اندوه اضافه جریمه بپردازند
هنگامی که وطن دستانش را بر روی صورتش می گرفت و می گریست
و ابرهای پاییزی
که از جزایر یونان می آمدند
از آن که به سواحل لبنان نزدیک شوند می ترسیدند
Nizar Qabbani wrote these poems more than 40 years ago, yet the situation remains unchanged for the people of Lebanon and has worsened for others in the region, like Syrians and Yemenis.
Today, while the looming shadow of war threatens not only Lebanon but the entire Middle East, including Iran, I can envision the face of Nizar Qabbani reading his poems about love, life, and war.
Hearing him tell stories of countless loves lost in the conflict, stories of children forced to grow up overnight, stories of human suffering and desires.
The poet lived his life amidst numerous wars, from the Israel-Arab wars (1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982) to the Lebanon Civil War (1975-1990). He lost his beloved wife, Balqis, in the bombing of Iraq’s embassy in Beirut, and wrote for her:
Balqis..
Of all birds, you’re the delicious.
Of all icons, the most precious.
Dear as tears, over Magdalene’s face.
Have I done you injustice,
When, once, I moved you from Adhamiyah banks?
Everyday, Beirut kills one of us.
Everywhere, there is death,
In the cup of coffee,
In the door key,
In the terrace flowers,
In the papers,
In the alphabet.
بلقیس
ای گنجشک دلنشین
ای تندیس گرانبها
و ای اشکی که بر گونه‌ی مجدلیه جاری شدی
آیا آن روز که تو را از «سواحل اعظمیه»
به این جا آوردم
بر تو ستم کردم؟
این وطن
هر روز یکی را پس از دیگری از پای درمی‌آورد
و هر لحظه در کمین قربانی تازه‌ای است.
اکنون مرگ در فنجان قهوه‌ی ما
در کلید خانه
در میان گل‌های باغچه
در لابه لای کاغذ روزنامه‌ها
و در حروف الفبا
بیتوته کرده است.
These poems are mirrors reflecting the true history of the region, history of the ordinary people and their shattered lives not the history of politicians and their wars.
These poems narrate the sorrowful fate of the Middle Eastern people longing to taste a bit of sweetness in their bitter lives.
And I am worried about cobblestone streets of Beirut.
Our homelands are burning in fire, yet we still sing home sweet home…