Love Poetry
Love poetry is distinct from other forms of poetry; it resonates closely with the heart and expresses deep emotions, especially among lovers. These individuals often find themselves overwhelmed by their feelings, struggling to articulate what lies within them. As a result, romantic poetry emerges as an eloquent reflection of their emotions. The richness of Arabic love poetry encompasses a variety of themes that resonate with different sentiments, highlighting the universal experience of love that touches every poet’s heart.
Modern Love Poetry Verses
A Small Love Letter
Nizar Qabbani, a renowned Syrian poet and diplomat of the modern era, published his first poetry collection in 1944 titled “The Dark-Skinned Woman.” Over the span of fifty years, he wrote 35 collections, earning critical acclaim and being regarded as a school of poetry. Among his celebrated works is the poem “A Small Love Letter,” one of the most beautiful modern love poems:
My beloved, I have much to say,
So much to share…
Where do I begin, my dearest?
For everything in you is regal,
O you who transform my verses
Into delicate silk threads.
This is my poetry and here I am,
Captured within this small book.
Tomorrow, should you turn its pages,
And a lamp yearns and a bed sings…
Letters, tinged with longing, would dance,
And ellipses almost take flight.
So do not say: “Oh what a lad,”
For he speaks of curves and brooks,
Of almonds and tulips, even I,
As the world moves with me in its dance.
And he said what he said, yet not a star
Exists without a hint of my fragrance.
Tomorrow, the people will see me in his poetry,
Like a bottle of wine and a short poem.
Let the tales of others be forgotten…
For you will only grow great with my immense love.
What would the earth become if we were not here?
If your eyes did not exist… what would remain?
The Weary One
Ahmad Shawqi, often referred to as “The Prince of Poets,” was an acclaimed Egyptian writer and poet. He authored a prolific collection titled “Al-Shawqiyyat,” consisting of four volumes. “The Weary One” is one of his poignant poems depicting the anguish of love and the trials faced by lovers:
O weary one, whose rest has been denied,
And who mourns the sound of your return,
Bewildered heart, tormented being,
With eyelids sore and sleep evaded,
Only a fragment remains of words,
Enough to keep you close, yet you squander it.
Enticing the dew caused by your sighs,
And melting stone with your lament,
Whispering to stars that tire of you,
Staying up through the night to call you.
Every sigh knows a tune,
Echoing through the trees, a remembrance.
So many moments have passed me by,
Yet their shadow haunts my reminiscences.
O my beloved, lies have entwined me,
As if I could ever escape their grasp.
After the Storm
The poem “After the Storm,” articulated by Nizar Qabbani, stands among the finest works speaking of love, where the poet expresses his unwavering affection for his beloved despite the adversities faced:
Do you love me after all that has transpired?
I love you despite the past.
I do not wish to dwell on your history;
What matters is that you are here, now.
Your smile, holding my hand,
Takes my doubt and turns it into faith.
About yesterday, let us never speak;
Let your hair flow, adorn your eyes.
Your minor faults, I shall overlook,
Transforming the thorns into basil.
If it were not for love in our hearts,
Humanity would not be human.
A year has passed, and you remain priceless;
Neither you nor love waned.
I love you; how can I ignite history’s flames?
With it, our temples, our newspapers,
Our coffee cups, our corners.
We were like children, in our actions,
Our arrogance, our misguided claims.
Our foolish words were comical,
How naive we were, and how foolish.
For how often did you leave in anger,
And how often did I hurt you sometimes.
Our gifts may have ceased, as well as our letters;
Yet love is greater than our transgressions.
Your eyes are oceans; how can I decisively
Handle your gaze without anguish?
It is fate that binds us together,
Oh sweet one, despite what has happened.
The garden has no choice but to bloom,
If it shows leaves and branches.
This love is a light within us,
It is our companion, and the essence of our whispers.
Our sorrows stem from it, and we ask it,
Does it add tears and woes?
Give me your hands, you are my lily,
And my beloved, despite all that has happened.
Verses from Pre-Islamic Poetry about Love
It is noteworthy that many poems were written about love, the grievances of lovers, and the bittersweet nuances intertwined with affection. Below are some examples:
O My Critic, Do Not Blame Me
Al-Samawal ibn Gharid, a pre-Islamic poet from the tribe of Azd, was renowned for his loyalty and is often referenced for it. He composed the poem “O My Critic, Do Not Blame Me,” addressing his reproaching critic:
O my critic, do not blame me;
For how many matters have I disobeyed?
Guide me if I err, but do not seduce me,
Your allure has led me astray.
O blame-giver, you have long condemned me,
If I were to stop, then I would have stopped.
And the yellow bracelets, they called to me,
To unite; but I chose solitude.
With vessels drawn to enjoying company,
Yet consumed by what I have tasted.
Even if I fell in with the assembly,
I mourned the blame of the reproachful one.
O house of the high, I come to you,
Were it not for love, I would not have ventured.
O house of your lineage, they promised me,
As if I had committed all sins.
If I miss the flesh of Gharid,
I shall strike the forearm of my youth.
The Dream of Abla
Antar loved Abla, his cousin, deeply, as she was one of the most beautiful women of their tribe. He proposed to marry her; however, her father rejected him based on his dark complexion and demanded an exorbitant dowry of a thousand camels. After considerable hardships and dangers, Antar succeeded. Yet, historical accounts vary on whether they actually wed. Antar’s expression of Abla in his dreams conveyed his intense love:
The vision of Abla came to me in dreams,
Three kisses she bestowed upon my face,
Farewell she whispered, leaving me with flames,
That intensify within my bones.
Were I to be alone with myself,
I would extinguish my yearning with tears.
O daughter of Malik, how can I find solace,
When the bond of our love is eternal?
How can I even hope for your closeness,
With fierce lions surrounding your abode?
I swore by love, I will not heal my heart,
Except through patience, O noble daughter.
Until I ascend the ranks of glory,
With a lance or by a strike of combat.
I am the one about whom you have heard,
The keeper of my tribe’s camels since infancy.
I move from dawn till dusk,
Resting between the tents.
I suffer for Abla from excessive longing,
And she occupies my every thought.
I obey my father’s commands,
Yet love has completely taken control over me.
I consented to love her, willingly and reluctantly,
Will I not be granted her love before death?
Even if she judges my darkness, it is my pride,
For I am a knight from the lineage of Ham.
With a heart stronger than mountains,
And my scent akin to fragrant musk.
Why do I hunt lions with passion,
And conquer beasts as easily as insects?
For I will never forget you, O Abla,
Though her love may consume my very bones.
To you, O Abla, every day,
I send my greetings upon greetings.
Let Us Weep for the Memory of a Beloved and a Homestead
Imru’ al-Qais, one of the most prominent pre-Islamic Arab poets from the Kindah tribe, is known as the “Wandering King.” In his poem, “Let Us Weep for the Memory of a Beloved and a Homestead,” he sorrowly describes the parting with his beloved:
Let us weep for the memory of a beloved and a home,
In the valley of Al-Liway, between the crossroads.
For the ruins have not faded with time,
Since they were woven into existence by the south and the north winds.
You can see the marks of the droplets in the yard,
And the investments seemed like pepper grains.
It seems as if at dawn on the day we parted,
By the Sidr trees of the camp.
And there, my friends stop my horse,
Urging me not to perish in anguish and to hold on.
My cure is a flowing tear,
Will I find solace in the elegant ruins?
No, my lover, there is no remedy for the memories you shared,
Perhaps your love will soar above the ruins.
Video on the Degrees of Love
Watch the video to discover the various degrees of love: