Poem: I Am Jerusalem
Author: Ayman Al-Labadi
Record, I am Jerusalem
I am the land of prophecies
I am the blossom of orbits
I am the muse of glory, my fringes are Arabic
I am the path of heroism
I am the gateway of civilizations
And I shine upon the brow of the sun with a celestial melody
I am Jerusalem
I am Jerusalem…
Record, I am Jerusalem
I am the lights wide open
I am history, glory, and the present
I am the walls, a hymn
I am free and Arab
I am humanity
I am Jerusalem
I am Jerusalem.
Record, I am Jerusalem
In the darkness of night, I am lanterns for my children
I leave a kiss upon the cheeks of sacrifice
And hold for them a song within my ribs
Come, my dear ones
For I have held my celebrations today
I am Jerusalem…
Poem: Oh Jerusalem, My Vision Has Clouded
Author: Abdel Aziz Al-Jouideh
Oh Jerusalem, my vision has clouded
Oh Jerusalem, you are a captive
Oh Jerusalem, I dream every day
That my arms embrace you
Oh Jerusalem, I am perforated
Like the holes in a flute
So let your melodies play my sorrows to weep
Perhaps my steps may calm
Oh Jerusalem, they have said for years:
Your trees will bloom jasmine
They ask about the homeland:
On which map is Palestine, which
No longer remembers its name?
Oh Jerusalem, oh sadness that travels within us
And grows like palm trees
From the land of “Jaffa” to “Galilee”
Oh Jerusalem, my compassionate homeland
Are we truly returning?
Oh Jerusalem, my estrangement has been lengthy
They said: It is impossible to return
If a breeze carries your scent to me
The Al-Aqsa Mosque lives within me
Glory be to Him who ascended and blessed your soil
Oh Jerusalem, Mary still holds Jesus in her arms
Shake a palm tree
So the beautiful dates may fall
Oh Jerusalem, this is impossible
And barrenness is a disease that has afflicted our hearts
And has affected the palm trees as well
Oh Jerusalem, I dream of returning
Oh Jerusalem, this is my homeland
Oh Jerusalem, I dream of praying in your courts
And not returning
Oh Jerusalem, oh Arab
Since the beginning
Until existence dissipates
Poem: Jerusalem
Author: Nizar Qabbani
I cried… until the tears ended
I prayed… until the candles melted
I bowed… until bowing tired me
I asked about Muhammad in you and about Jesus
Oh Jerusalem, city that perfumes with prophethood
The shortest paths between earth and heaven
Oh Jerusalem, lighthouse of the scriptures
Your eyes are sad, oh city of the Virgin
Oh shade-filled oasis that the Messenger passed through
The minarets of the mosques are mournful
Oh Jerusalem, beautiful enveloped in darkness
Who rings the bells at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?
On Sunday morning…
Who brings toys for the children?
On the night of birth…
Oh Jerusalem, city of sorrows
A great tear wandering in the eyelids
Who saves the Gospel?
Who saves the Quran?
Who saves humanity?
Oh Jerusalem… my city
Oh Jerusalem… my beloved
Tomorrow… tomorrow… the lemon will blossom
The green ears of grain and olives will rejoice
And the eyes will laugh…
And the migrating doves will return…
To the pure rooftops
And the children will return to play
And fathers and sons will meet
On your blossoming hills…
Oh my country…
Oh land of peace and olives