Carbil - Sharbel

Carbil


Ttalj byinhimir w bidub, li xyun btinfijir, w baxd
Ma truḣ, l widyeen btusax wi ṡṡaḱir byinca``
Fi raahib mxalla` bi sawmaxa xa tall, ḣa``
Yib`a ta yiḱlaṡ l weede wi ttall, ta ytimm l waxd

Marbuṫ Carbil bi nidro wi sraar l xibeede
Cu bticke ariḋna min jameel w siyeede
Cu naa`ṡo ḱibizna min zaw` w cakl w ṫaxm
Law naṫṫayṫ min raas cciir ma nkasarlak xaḋm

Jameel l arḋ min majd l Ḱeeli`, Ssayyid wi Rrabb
Ḱibizna la waḣdo ma byikfe xa ha ddarb
La tjarrib Rabbak, la mni ccar` w la mnil ġarb

Xawaaṡif, tajeerib, araayib, xawaaṫif
Nneesik faw`on xile bi tawaaḋox l xeerif
Bi xazm w raṡaane, mḣabbe w tafeene, habb


Copyright July 22, 2009 Hicham Khalil Bourjaili
Our Lady of Lebanon, Waterbury, Connecticut, USA


English Version

Sharbel

The snow falls and melts, the springs (1) gush, and after
They pass, valleys become larger and the rock cracks
A monk is hanging on a hill in his hermitage, it is fair
He stays till the end (2) of the valley and the hill, till the promise is fulfilled

Sharbel is bound by his vows and the mysteries (3) of worshipping
What is wrong with our land, its beauty and majesty?
What is missing in our bread, style, form or taste?
If you jump from the top of a cliff none of your bones will be broken (4)

The beauty of the land reflects the glory of the Creator, the Sovereign and the Lord
Our bread alone is not enough on this way
Do not put your Lord to the test, from east nor west (4)

Storms, temptations, relatives, emotions
The hermit rose above them with the humility of the one who knows
With resolution and perseverance, love and generous sacrifice, he stood (5)


Notes:

1) The word xayn in Lebanese with the plural xyun means the spring of water and the eye.

2) The verb ḱiliṡ in Lebanese means to end and also to be saved.

3) The mysteries of worship are also called the sacraments. There are seven of them for each step in our earthly and spiritual life: baptism, confirmation, confession, communion, priesthood and Sharbel was both a monk and a priest, marriage and the anointing of the sick. Priests are married to the Church in a mystical fashion. The vows of a monk or a nun are usually three: poverty, chastity and obedience.

4) The Maronite Liturgy when celebrating the feast of Saint Sharbel mentions that Jesus Christ wanted Sharbel to be conformed to his image. Hence, Sharbel was tempted in his life with the same three temptations of Jesus Christ as counted in the Synoptic Gospels of the Apostle Matthew, the Evangelists Mark and Luke. And like Jesus Christ, Sharbel in grace overcame.

5) The verb habb in Lebanese has many meanings all acceptable in the poem context: to stand with zeal is one of them; also to blow like the wind, the wind being the symbol of the Holy Spirit; to be enflamed, like with the fire of divine love; to bear arms for a noble cause, like priests and monks fighting for their salvation and the salvation of the World.


Copyright August 1, 2009 Hicham Khalil Bourjaili
Our Lady of Lebanon, Waterbury, Connecticut, USA