I Never Imagined After Your Death, Father
I never imagined that after your passing,
Oh Father, with feelings blind by sorrow,
I would thirst for life, drinking
From its blazing, intoxicating river,
And return to this world with a fluttering heart
For love, joy, and melodies,
And for all the dreams painted in this universe,
And the wonders of emotions and pains.
Until the years rolled by, and life’s allure came
With its enchanting magic.
And there I found, I was still a child, eager
To chase the lights and colors,
While pessimism towards life and rejection of it
Was merely a form of delusion and delirium.
Indeed, within his soul, man is
A true servant of life, with steadfast faith.
A Word of Thanks, Father, That Cannot Measure My Feelings
And my feelings towards you, my dear, are immense.
No matter how much I thank you, I feel incomplete.
Your daughter always sees you as a giant,
You are precious, and I say this with a proud heart.
You are the crown I place upon my head wherever I go,
Your love has built castles in my heart.
My heart belongs to your kingdom, and you, my father, are the prince.
You illuminate my eyes and drown them in joy,
Every time I see your smile, my heart soars.
Your light increases with every glance at you.
As long as you are well, this world is well.
And if I travel the entire universe,
Finding you is something unmatched in this time.
In short, what I want to express with feeling is:
Your daughter loves you immensely.
Father
Part of me is gone as the earth has taken you from me,
While the other part overflows through my tears.
Oh Father! Death has betrayed me, and in the ruins,
My dreams collapse like a house of cards.
Once, my gardens were blooming and full of laughter,
Now they have withered, the flowers faded from grief.
My cups were once full of joy,
Now they have fallen to blind hands of misery.
Only the taste of death remains in my mouth,
And the sound of mourning fills my ears.
Nothing beautiful resides in my eyes, and seldom
Did I open them, except for beauty.
But what I see now, after you, is only distorted,
Shaped by the hand of sorrow.
On the day you left, my heart was inflamed,
My eyes cried out in despair,
I search for pain through my tears,
And I hate to admit that sorrow feels like cowardice.
How can I be in a phase where joy escaped from me?
It’s as if consolation offers no remedy to a young man
And a kind word does not ease the ache.
I gazed into the depths of my spirit, seeking hope,
Wondering if, across the sea, I would draw closer.
Like a bird finding refuge in a high nest,
It flew with fear, hovering above its home.
Ah, if only I were there with those who wept,
When I gazed at the mourners asking about me.
And how I wish the earth could unfold for me,
So I could be with the grieving at your burial,
For I wish to repay the love of fatherhood,
Though it can never be fully weighed or measured.
The greatest pride I held was that you were my father,
And my utmost honor was your words: “This is my son!”
So I tell myself… in an attempt to quell my agony,
Every time I utter: “If only I could…”
Is the farewell of loved ones something to be shunned?
Oh time, this is the ultimate injustice and betrayal!
Father! Each time I say it, it feels like I am
Calling out, “Oh my homeland, my refuge!”
To whom can the afflicted turn, if not to you?
Will hope return, with a smiling face?
You quenched youth in the arena of glory,
And age brushed you free from decay’s taint.
Your mind was like a summer star in the twilight,
With clarity as piercing as a sword.
You saw the world without its facade,
Like a land lacking water, sound without a melody.
There was no harm done to oneself alone,
Your laughter and kindness to seas and friends.
Bold against the tyrannical, shunning vice,
Swift to invite, noble without pretense.
Whenever you spoke, it felt like a poet was speaking,
Insightful and keen in understanding, taste, and artistry.
Not once did the listener feel tired of your words,
Each utterance would be met with eagerness: “Please, continue!”
Despite circumstance, you departed from this world,
Yet still, despite all, we shall follow the path.
A journey trodden by millions before us,
From the noble king and his servant to the craftsman.
We believe this world and all within it
Is nothing but a sea for ships.
They ebb and flow freely across its waves,
Much like a person who lingers in prison.
We weighed death’s secret against life’s philosophy,
Only to find it mere noise without substance.
The most knowledgeable about the earth
Are often the most ignorant, casting judgment.
Thus, one like this is lost in thought,
Anxiety looms, awaiting safety without forecast.
Oh, this journey remains profoundly elusive,
No matter how detailed the explanation of the lessons.
Oh, symbol of Lebanon, majestic and dignified,
Fortress of loyalty, strong in that stronghold.
Your resting place, though enigmatic and serene,
Still builds the praises that you sought.
Preferred among towers that tower over the skyline,
And more beautiful in my eyes than the finest cities.
Upon that grave, peace be upon it,
Fragrances are no longer needed from me.
Oh Father, That Strain Has Faded Away
Oh Father, that strain has melted away,
Like the sun hiding behind that lofty peak.
The years of life have passed,
Leaving in my imagination
Shadows of bitterness that weep in my eyes.
Do you remember the days we waited
By the door, peering out?
Seeing a shadow on the path,
And our eagerness increased as you drew near.
Because you would carry us on your shoulders,
With love in your heart and a sparkle in your eyes.
I believed, dear Father,
That when you lifted me, the stars and comets would whisper to me.
We would see shadows,
But never had we gazed
Upon your face in daylight,
Nor at noon, nor in the evening,
Nor at sunset.
For you were always off
To work with the dawn,
Kissing us goodbye…
And our mother’s tears flowed,
For in life’s darkest hours, you would appear,
Shining like the full moon,
With sorrow in your eyes,
And weakness in your body from fatigue.
Your radiant smile was always sincere,
And you laughed to hide from your children all the pains you bore.
Yet, from my childhood,
I saw the pain manifest beneath the weight of your tender smile.
Though you always tried to conceal it,
Your beautiful brow shone brighter.
Your sweet smile made the nightingale sing,
While I could almost see your ribs ignite with pain,
And your soft gaze wipe away tears,
While you sighed deeply.
The years flew by like a fleeting dream,
You have now crossed beyond sixty years,
Gone… yet they felt like a heavy burden.
You remain a guiding light for us, dear father,
Illuminating our paths throughout time,
Teaching and guiding us
With wisdom that books cannot furnish.
You would say: “My children,
With piety,
And faith in destiny,
One can live without toil or oppression.”
Your love showered us with tenderness,
For all our days, greater than the rains.
I wrote a poem for you,
With tears of love, loyalty, gems, and gold,
And from your brow’s sweat,
I crafted my verses,
Heavy with worries, pain, and toil.
I composed a poem for you,
Filling it with the essence of my heart,
With my veins,
And the words are bright as stars.
Today, my shy verses whisper: “Oh Father,
That strain has faded away.”
Oh Father, I Write Verses for You
You inspire the most beautiful and sweet verses,
I wish you were always close, short of distance.
For you, I would brave the distance, even great.
If you are absent, may the separations be brief,
And may we see each other each day for many years.
You remain in my thoughts, oh beloved one,
Every step I take follows your wise direction.
Your absence increases my love, evoking tears,
And each day, I await your news eagerly.
Precious son of a precious father, without doubt,
May God keep you in love, amidst happy days.
Farewell Father
And you have become a distant apparition,
Cast away from us.
When we lost you that day,
We were stripped from one another.
We came to you,
And we cried over you,
For you were like a bird in a tree,
With love that sang.
You were a dream intertwined with our life,
A bright moon enchanting us.
And you have become a distant apparition,
It was a difficult day for us,
Oh how we lamented, for our youth was lost.
Like the sun that shines brightly, but how soon it disappeared,
How did you vanish
And in the dawn you disappeared?!
And now you seem like a dream we wish to find,
To meet where our journey ends,
An illusion.
I never thought the nights
Would steal their drinkers.
And that the bright stars
Would fall,
Leaving their peaks to dust!
And those who once walked gently
Now soar like birds,
Even like a comet.
Grief overcomes us, as if we are
A vessel lost in the storms of despair.
Farewell, Father ..
Farewell, for death leaves a deep wound,
Farewell, for death shows its fangs and fangs.
Farewell, my father, may you reach
Heaven’s peaks and goodness’ embrace.
By God, if I could trade my entire life for your happiness
I wouldn’t even fulfill a fraction of your right; your worth is beyond measure.
Oh beloved father, my crown, I wish my life were a tribute to you,
Oh my treasure, I would gladly trade my eyes for you.
For twenty-five years, I never hesitated to serve you,
Like rain falling when nourishing clouds come.
I hope, may God not deny your plea,
Keeping my promise to you with my hands and heart.
Truly, and you know, no one supports me but you,
And the reason is clear to those who comprehend and understand.
And even if I sing your praises in poetic form,
Your essence soars above all praises and melodies.
Forgive me, and I seek forgiveness from God,
But I feel you are an angel.
Whenever you sit with me, my heart fills with peace,
I feel like I own the world when I’m with you.
Your presence crushes all eyes’ judgment.
By God, if my goodness is abundant, it’s all for you,
What would I be? I am a complete man, but without you,
And what would life mean without striving for your love?
What would compassion and mercy become without you?
Oh dear Father, stop bearing the burdens in your heart,
It suffices that you have endured the bitter hardships.
Oh father, the light of my eyes, you’ve spent your life with me,
And it’s the only refuge I have known through all storms.
Oh father, may my soul be a sacrifice for you,
Keep me close by your side in this life and beyond.
Oh father, let us be united, even if it’s challenging,
After all that has been said and done,
My life and soul are wholly devoted to you,
And deep inside, I know your immense worth is priceless.
Father
Give half of yourself to your father, living or dead,
And honor him with the finest of your endeavors.
If I say less, when you were burdened,
And when you carried me in those formative years.
You would endure hardships to nurture the joys,
Clutching me to embrace and comfort.
Fallen branches of a tree,
If he transgressed, he would meet consequences.
Bear your father’s burdens one day,
For he is only human—the strength within him wanes.
He brought you into a world you did not choose,
And wished for you to achieve what he couldn’t,
A Video on the Importance of Fathers
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