Sukun L Miir - The Stillness of the Prince

Sukun L Miir


Libnen ka`anno xa`dayn. Jabal Libnen bil ġarb maṫruḣ xa caṫṫ l baḣr, l Baḣr l Abyaḋ l Mitwassiṫ, w milyeen durar min tleel wi jbeel. Fii ġebeet l arz. W ḱayyo neeyim ḣaddo maṫraḣ ma bṫitlax ccams, Jabal Libnen Ccar`e, mitl ssilsle. Bayneeton byimtadd Sahl li B`eex, lli byis`ii Nahr l Liṫaane. Iza seefarto cmeel wi lḣi`to Nahr l Xaaṡe btuṡalo xa Inṫaakya. Min li jnub, min Jabal Ccayḱ, bitṡobb l mayy bi Nahr l Ordon. Jnub Libnen fi l Jaliil, Nablos wil Ids. Min hawniik ṡṡaḣra. Car` Libnen fi Bleed Cceem. Dimac` xaaṡmita, w byis`iiha Nahr l Barada. Cmeela fi Ḣalab. Axla bi cwayy bitṡiiro bi manṫa`it Maardiin. Aktar ṡawb ccar` bitlee`o Bleed Ma Bayn Nnahrayn, l Furs w Kurdistan. Xal xeele fi Araraat min Armiinya.

Mudon Fini`ya baxda lal yawm: Jbayl, Bayrut, Ṡayda w Ṡur, maxa Ṫraablos wi Bxalbak. Xakka ṡaarit bi Flisṫiin, w Arwaad bi Suriyya. Qartaja durra bi Tunis. Asar Finii`ya bi kill ḣawḋ l Miṫwassiṫ, min Obros, la Italia, la Ispania, la Marsilia bi Fransa, lal Jazee`ir, lal Maġrib, la Liibya. Ḣatta makeetib Miṡr wi Bled Ma Bayn Nnahrayn hille byinbica nni`ebiin wil xulama, btiḣtiwe xala maḱṫuṫaat Fini`iyye aw bitḱoṡṡ Finii`ya. Alb Libnen milyeen asareet, tiḣaf w asraar: Weede Qadiica w Weede Ttaym, Qalxit li Cqiif w Qalxit li Kraad, Bayt Mire w Baytiddiin, Dayr l Qamar wi Ddamur, Ctura w Xanjar, l Qorne Ssawda w Jabal Ṡanniin, li Knayse wil Baruk, Niiḣa w Jabal Xeemil, Nnabaṫiyye w Jizziin, Racayya w Ḣaasbayya, Afqa w Kfar Dibyeen, Marjixyun w Bint Jbayl, Zaḣle w Raas Bxalbak, l Hirmil w Xakkar, Ṡayda wi Ṡṡarafand, Ṡur w Xakka, Qaana w Maġduce, Jbayl wil Batroun, Ṫraablos wil Kuura, Kisirween wil Matin, Bxabda w Xalayy, Bcarre wi Zġarta, Ḣomṡ w Ḣama, Weedi Nnaṡaara w Ṫartus, li B`eex l Ġarbe wi Ccuf. Baxd fi aktar bi ktiir diyax w mudun, ma btinxad bi kam saṫir aw btinḣaka bi kam kilme.

Mitl mbeeriḣ ḱilṡit l maxrake bi ssahl, bi Xanjar, ḋayxit l Umawiyye. Jayc l miir ntaṡar w jayc l weele l xismeene, ḣeekim wileeyit Dimac`, nhazam. L weele bi zeeto wa`ax asiir. Leekin l miir xeemalo bi karame w iḣtiraam. W rijix l weele la wileeyto bas anifto maksura. Bi hal maxrake amman l miir ssilm la imaarto. Bas bayno w bayn nafso, byaxrif l miir inno ma fi weele maġlub yitkattaf baxd ġilbo. Mic imaarto taḣt wileeyto? Kiif baddo yinsa haziimto wi yḣiṫṫ min nafso w kibriyee`o, w yimsol bi xinfuen w karame ta yiḣke baxd iddem l wuleet wi ssultan. Ṡaḣiiḣ hayda naṡr bas baxd l faraḣ fi xaaṡfe jeeye, w la budd ma tije min l Beeb l Xeele bi Istanbul. Ma fi weele kilimto bitṡiir tnayn aw biḋiix taaro illa iza wa`ax raaso. Seexita, hille ma ider l weele l feecil yḣa``i`o, weele jdiid axnaf minno w al`am byaxmil ḣamle xaskariyye w binaffzo.

L miir ṡaar xa dahr l jabal. Waraa ccams wi ssahl. Iddemo l widyeen, wi ttleel, w baxdayn l baḣr. Ḣawlo mreef`o jayco w caxbo. Keen fii yiftiḱir bi naṡro, naṡr jayco w caxbo, ḣikmo w idaarto, w kill imaarto. Leekin l miir seekit. Li jraas sab`ito w axlanit intiṡaaro lal kill, min ciir la ciir, min weede la weede, min tall la tall, w min jabal la jabal, w bi kill sahl. L miir xindo kameen miḱbriin, baxaton ta yziixo ḱabar żżafar. Fi minnon byiḣko bill bu` wi ṫabl, w minnon bi nnar. L balad killo xam biġanne w yixzof, w yiḣtiri` min l bahje wil faraḣ. Alla kbiir w kariim. Kattir ḱayro. Bas l miir xa ḣṡaano, meece xa mahlo, seekin, jaliil, ka`anno mi`yees l ġibṫa ṡamto l xażiim.

Nees xam tiḣke xan abṫaal l maxrake. Nisween xam bitzalġiṫ w bitzitt rozz wi `maar. Wleed xam bitnoṫṫ maxa `wees nicceebe w ashom min odbaan, w ni`ayfeet ka`anna majanii`, wi syuf min ḱayzaraan wi `dabiin rrimmeen. Fi nees miḣtaariin, byis`alo wayn wleedon, iḱweeton, bayyeeton, ḱweelon, xmumton, zweejon, wi jdudon. Byiṫallaxo, bifattco, byintro, wi byis`alo. Waynon? "Ibnik baṫal", "Bayyak fażiix", "Baxrif jawzik, awfa ṡadii`", "Ilii ccaraf txarraft xlay". Kilmeet ktiire ma btuṡaf. Marraat ḣada bi ṫoll w fi wjuh keenit sawda bitṡiir tibtisim w tiḋḣak. W marrat ṡabr bi ṫul w ma ḣada byije.

L miir neezil xa Ddayr. Hiyye Dayr l Qamar aw Dayr l Amar, w bi kill basaaṫa tiṡġiira Ddayr. Bi Libnen fi lahjeet ktiire, kill ḋayxa ila lahjita, kil ḣayy miizeeto, w kill caḱṡ ṡawto. L lahje btitġayr maxa maxa, ka`anno btitmawwaj wi btilḣa` kill talle w kill sahl, kill weede w kill jabal, kill nasme w kill mawje, l amar w kill najme. Ṫṫabiixa bi Libnen mitnawxa, kariime w ḱilleebe. Ccajar, nnabeet, ṡṡḱur, ṫṫyur, mitl l maweesim wi ṫṫa`s, bizayyno w biġazzo l balad killo.

Sikkeen l jabal sammo l balad bi lahjeeton: min l boḣṡ la li ḣajar, min ṡṡaḱir la ccir, min nnabxa lal xayn, w min ssee`ye la nnahr. Byiḣko ci xan ssabiil w ci xan zzire. Xiṫyo aseeme la iṫax l arḋ, ḣasab iza byis`uha w kiif bixeemluha, iza ctaruha aw sta`jaruha, w wayn maw`ixa w addayc adra: fi l xawde wil ḱanda`, l ḱalle wi ccmiis, rrijme wi ṡṡaḣra, l karm wil bisteen, ddinom wil mitr, l intaar wi rraṫl. Nnees bit`addir minil jall, lal ana, lal maṫḣane, minil birke la ttiyyeeb, min ṫṫarii` lal jisir, w btiftiriḋ minil hawa la rriiḣ, min li ġṫayṫa la li ġyum, w bil moḱtaṡar l mufiid min l arḋ, lal baḣr w la ssama.

Iddem l miir w ḣawlo ḋḋiyax wi li byut, kill safiḣ jabal ṡafḣa maftuḣa la hille biḣibb yi`ra, w kill weede ka`anno ḱalwit ta`ammol. Fi cajar l ġeeb, w cajar li fweeke, w cajar zziine. Ccajar byilḣa` li jbeel, wi ttleel, ssahl wi li mweesim, wi nnahr. Fi cajar byil`aṫ l arḋ, w cajar bridd ccams wil hawa, w cajar lal ḣar` bil maw`ade wi li wjee`, w cajar la ciġl l ḱacab, w cajar la ttiṫxiim, w cajar ta neekol, w fi cajar ya maḣlee. Ahl l jabal xeeco bi l waxr w xammaro li jleele bi ttin`iib w zaraxuha, ḣatta ṡaarit mitl janeeyin Beebil li mxalla`a.

Li ḣraac mitl li bseetiin ṡaarit minnon w fiyon. Ṡṡnubraye, wil arze l bariyye, wil arz arz Rrab, wi ssindyeen, wil mallul, ṡaḣiiḣ byiṫlaxo bil waxr bas kameen bayn li byut. Ccarbiin bizannir li jnayneet wi ṫṫor`aat wil adyira. Li anno nnees ci xammarit bayneton aw rijxit zarxiton w ḣarracit. Zzaytun, l xinab wi ttiin bimallo l karm wil ḱaweebe. L lawz wil ḱarrub mitl l xinneeb wi zzaxrur, w kamen rriiḣeen, byiṫlaxo bi l baxl, yixne l arḋ lli ma badda ṡa`e, hille bitkaffiha mayyit ccite. Ttiffeeḣ, l karaz wi ddiray` aṫyab mini ccajar l mazruux xal xeele. L ḱawḱ, jjarink, nnjaaṡ, l micmoc, l akke dinye, rrimmeen wil ḱarma bineesibon li xluu l mitwassiṫ. L mawz, l laymun wil ḣimḋiyyaat, l baṫṫiiḱ wi ccimmeem, nnaḱl lli byaxṫe l balaḣ, bineesbo sseḣil. Ṡṡibbayr baddo dafa w bixiic bil baxl wi ṡṡa`e. L jawz mitl l aṡab l feerse baddo mayy, w byicmaḱ faw` li byut wi ccajar. L ḣawr, wil kiina, ddilb wi ṡṡifṡaaf baddon rṫube. L ġaar ramz nnaṡir. Zzinzlaḱt bihaccil l barġac wi ddibeen, w byaxṫe l ahl li `ḋabiin ta yrabbo li wleed, wi li wleed byaxmlo minno syufe w xiṡe ta yrabbo baxḋon. L ḱayzaran wil acc la ciġl l karaase, ṫṫbaa` wi ṫṫawleet. Ssahl byiṫlax fi kill cii.

L axceeb wi zzhur ila ma`eeme kbiire. Hille byifham fiyon wi byaxṫe waṡfeet bi sammuu ḣakiim xarabe. Hille byit`ammalon bikun faylasuf. W sittet li byut byaxrfo kiif yzayyno byuton wi ddine bi li `maar. Fi l ward bi kill alweeno bixaṫṫir l arḋ w birefi` l xiccee` w li xras. Fi zzanba` lli lebis aḣla minil malik Slaymeen. Nnarjes, baḱḱur maryam, ca`eye` nnixmeen, rriḣeen, li `ronfol, wil marguerite, tim ssamke wil gardenia, ssawsan wil yeesmiin, l xanbar wil mantur bitallo ddine bi rrabiix. Li wleed bilimmo bee`eet zzhur ta y`admuha la jinneez l Masiiḣ bi rrabiix baxd ma bikuno aṡafo kill ġosn aḱdar byuṡal la iidon xa Ccaxniine. Fi li slii`a, min hindbe, w ḣeer`a, w ḣimmayḋa, w orṡ xanne, w mokḱo bxibbo, w zaxtar, w farfaḣiin la ssalaṫa w lal kabiis. W fi tiḣwice la zzhuraat min zufa la babunij, la wara` l lwayze wi zzaxfaraan, zzayzafun wil ḱeetmiyye. Kameen fi ḣinblees lal akl wi dda`, wi ṫṫayyun wil aṡxiin lal waṡfeet. L xitr la li mrabba, ḱaaṡṡatan mrabba ttiin bi ssimsom. L ḣaba` cayḱ ṫṫaawle biruḣ bil kibbe nnaye, max nnaxnax lli bi zayyina wi zzayt.

Nnabeet bi Libnen bi xijj bil ḣayeet. Kill nasme ila xiṫr, kill zahra ila naḣle, kill ḣabbe ila namle, kill ġosn ilo ziiz, wi ṫṫayr, ci ḣassun, ci bilbol, ci ġuraab. Kill bisteen bi Aylul bizuru li snunu. L ḣajal bineem xa biḣṡa w xa ijir wiḣde bil waxr. L beeci` wi li x`eeb, ṡṡa`ir wi nnisir biḣawwmo bil faḋa w bimallo ssama w binaḋḋfo l arḋ minil ḣayyeet wi jjraḋiin. L wirwar byiḣmol raseyel l xiccee` bi aḣla l aġeene. L ḣameem biriff max kill ṡala wa`t l azeen. Zzraa`it wi ddbebiir byixizmo ḣeelon xa kill akle w biceerko bi kill ciic micwe min dun izin. Dud l arḋ wil bizzee` byiṫlaxo baxd kill catwiyye max li ḣraḋiin. Bu brayṡ wi ssi`eyeet bi niṫṫo xa li ḣjaar wil ḣiṫan, w byitrabbaṡu bi li s`ufiyye. L xankabut byilṫe wayn ma keen. Im arbxa w arbxiin biḱawfu fiha li wleed. Li `babiit btihlok zzarrrixa wi btibṡot li bsayneet. L firaan btiġze kill uwaḋ l mune. Jjraḋiin ma btistiḣe min ḣada. Fi l ḣirbeyeet xa li ġṡaan btisro` l alween w bṫiṡle, mitl ḋḋafaaḋix xal birak lli ṡawta biruḣ max l mayy. Fi zzaleeḣif ḣadd nnahr, w fi sslaatxiin wi ssamak la ṡṡiyyadiin. Ḋḋabx, wi ssabix, l wewiyye wi li dyeeb marraat bitḱawwif nnees w marrat btihrob mina. Ttaxlab ṡadii` li djeej hille bifaḋḋlo yistaġno xanno. Fi l maweece min xanz w ġanam lli btisraḣ xa li tleel w bitreefi`a li kleeb, wi rruxaat byisharo xlaya w bitallo l fala min ṡawt zzammur w annit nnayeet. Wil amar bi Libnen ka`anno ariib, laaṫe wara kill ġoṡn. Ka`anno l jabal wi ssama hawne jiraan, hinne wil baḣr sawa.

Li mzeerxiin bil jabal byaxrfo yistafiido min kill maṫraḣ bi bayton w ḣawalay. Fi xaraayic btiṫlax xa ṡṡtuḣ. W fi xinab w tiin la ṡṡayf w la ccite. Fi ḱawebe la zzayt w la ddibs, lal uṫa w la ttin l yeebis, la li zbiib wil xara`. Fi jarreet nbiid, lal aḣmar wil abyaḋ, wi zzahre kameen. L indawle btiṫṫaxxam w biṫṡiir ḱawḱa, lawze aw tiffeeḣa bi li jnayne, w iza bi`yit bil barriyye bitzahhir bi rrabix bi lawna l aṡfar, w taḣta bile`o ssallii`a l irṡ xanne. Kill jall fi cajar fweeke baynon tleem. Kill talm byinzarax ḱiḋra min malfuf la ḱass, la banadura, la ḱyaar w la baṡal. L mi`te aṫyab bi bkirzayn, bi arḋ l baxl. Fi minnon biḣitto bi l arḋ kusa, w arx, w la`ṫiin w biḱalluhon yiṫlaxo xa ccajar. L la`ṫiin ṫayyib biccite, byittekal max sikkar aw max birġol. Kibbit ṡṡawm minno. Ssikkar ḣilo jdiid nnes btistaxmlo badl l xasal. Byinzeed xal ahwe w bi ḣalliha w bi ṫayyiba max l heel. Marraat byinzeed max ccay l hinde wi ṡṡine. L kusa wi l`arx max l malfuf w wara` l xariic la li mḣeece. L ablama badda kusa ḱṡuṡe, mitl zzukiini. Minon byizraxo baṫaṫa, jazar w batinjeen, w mic minzameen cmandar w aṡab maṡṡ. L batinjeen lal kabiis w cayḱ l miḣce, wil baba ġannuj kameen. Xaṫul fi ba`dunis, w kizbra. Ttabbule sitt ṫṫawleet. Minon byizraxo kameen ḣommos, w xadas, w ḣinṫa, wi cxiir, w rozz, w xan jdiid fasolia w lubye, bazella w ḋura. Li ḣbub mhimme la ṡṡiḣḣa, w ḣafza w tiḣḋira hayniin. Fi ḣbub lal mune wi ḣbub la zzarx bi mawsima.

Lbayt bil ijmeel ilo jnayne, marraat bikun fi see`ye mer`a min ḣaddo aw ana, aw birke bi albo w ila nufayra. Fi byut xinda biir. Zzhur ḣawl l bayt w xa kill cibbeek bitzayno w bitlawno, w btista`bil bi ḣafewe zzuwaar. Mitl ahl l bayt bit`ul la ḋyuf carraftuna, ahlan wa sahlan fikon. W fi minon xindon inn djeej, lal bayḋ w la laḣm ddiik yawm l farḣa. W minon xindon ba`ar lal ḣaliib wil laḣme, w ġanam la ṡṡuf wil awarma w lal iḣtifeel iyyem li xyeed. Mic bas ḱweriif, swexiir xanz kameen btindabaḣ. Ṡaar fi maṡaaliḱ, w kameen nees btaxrif taxmil ajbeen w albeen. Leekin l labne baxda baladiyye, wil kick kameen. L kick malik ccawrba, biġazze w bixayyic bi ccite. Byinxamal min l birġol max l laban. Baxd ma yinna`ax l birġol bil laban w yiḱtimro, byinxamalo `raaṡ btinḣaṫ xa carcaf bi ccams. Kill layle byitnayzalo xal bayt ta ma yeḱod xlayon nnide. Bas ynaccfo li `raaṡ btinfiriṫ w bitṡiir mitl li ṫḣiin. Byinḣafaz l kick bi kiis aw wixe neecif min l izeez. Bi ccite byinzeed xlay mayy siḱne, tum w awarma. Byitteekal bil ḱibz. Hayde waṡfe aṡiile w na`iyye min iyyem sitte w jidde.

Ahl kill bayt xindon xaadatan saaj, wil ḱabze ila uṡula, rahjita w iḣtifeela. Ṫṫḣiin byiḣmlo l baġl aw li ḣmaar la kill bayt. Li mkeeriyye ilon wazin bil balad. L mune ila abo ḱṡuṡe byiḣmii bsayn minil firaan. L xajne bitkun abl blayle min l ḱabze, wil xajiin baddo ḱamiire ta yiṫlax. L jiran byijo yawm l ḱabze w bi ceerko bi rra` wil hall. Marraat rrjel bitseexid bil xajn. Bas l hall museeba`a bayn nnisween. Li anno ṡṡabiyye lli badda cabb badda tkun taxrif ṫṫaxme l xayle. Wil mara lli badda jawza yḋall ḣadda yiftiḱir fiha badda xaṫul tdiir l bayt w tkun xa ras l ḣamle w xa adda. Li wleed biceerko kameen bil muneesabe. Bilimmo nntiir, yixne ibar li ṡnubar lli btu`ax w btiibas, w hille bitġazze nnar taḣt ssaaj. La hille mic cceyfo, ssaj mitl l ibbe. Lammen bikun ḣeeme bimiddo xlay l xajiine l mahlule lli ṡaarit mitl l war`a rrafiixa w bitkun maḣṫuṫa xa tikkeye mdawwara, ḣatta tinḱibiz. W aḣla seexa sexit byi`ixdo li wleed wi byeklo l ḱibiz ssoḱn, max zayt w zaxtar, labne w banadura, wil jiran mitl ahl l bayt killon byitḋayyafo ḱibiz wi ṫlaame. Fi ṫṫlaame bi zaxtar, w bi kicik wi flayfle, wib awarma. W kameen fi minon xindon karake ta yciilo l xara`. Aaḱ, xal karake w axdita, wil xara` li mtanna wi li mtallat! Ma aḣla ssahar wi ssamar xal kees min xinab mahruṡ w m`aṫṫar max l yensun.

L lej`iin xa Libnen jeebo lahjeeton maxon w zeedo lahjeet l balad. L ġuzet tarako baṡmeeton in keen bi lluġa, bi li ḣjaar aw bi ccaxb. L ḣulafa kameen ġinyo l balad. Min baynon l Akraad bijayc l miir. Fixlan xa iyyem l miir kill nnes nḱalaṫit, w ṡaarit tifham xa baxḋa cu ma keenit l lahje. Ddayr xaaṡimto w mitl Libnen ṡaarit janne mlawwane, jawhara bi alb l waxr, weeḣa bi alb ṡṡaḣra. Fiha jeemix wi kneesit, wi kniisit Ssayde, Maryam l Xadra, Im Allah, min abraciyyit Ṡayda. Byuta armiid aḣmar w ḣajar, w min ḣajar bayt Sayfa hille bi Xakkar xammar l miir aṡro. Bi alb li mdiine fi seeḣa, bi noṡṡ sseḣa nufayreet mayy. Nnes byilti`o fiha wi byicrabo min hal xayn, wi byiḣko, wi byitseeyaro, wi byaxmlo mceriix. Kameen byiḣtiflo fiha bil munasabeet, w bil axyeed, wi byaxmlo mahrajeneet w alxeeb. Ttijar xindon dkekiin deeyir ma dara, w kameen fi minnon byijo min ḣawalaya aw min bxiid, ta ybassṫo bḋaxiton aw ta yitḣawwajo. Fi ḣurafiyye, mbayyḋiin, m`eewliin w finneniin byixirdo ḱadameeton.

Xa zeet sseḣa, fi saray l miir w aṡro. Min lammin ḣakam l miir xomrit ddine. L miir dixe l kill ta yceerko biḣayeet l balad min dun timyiiz xala ay asees, la ṫayfe, la diin w la aṡil. Ḣatta nnisween xindon ma`eeme w iḣtiraam. Imm l miir ssit Nasab, wil kil biḣibbuha. Kilmita kilme, bil bayt w bil balad. Hiyye wara l miir min lammin bayyo Qurqumeez raaḣ, w huwwe baxdo zġiir. Rabbito max bayt l Ḱeezin bi Kisirween. L miir xirif lamma stalam l imaara ywaḣḣid caxbo. Ṫṫawayif killa mmassale xindo, wi ṫṫaba`aat l ijtimexiyye killa ila maḣalla biddawle w ila dawra biḣayeet l balad. L wujaha wi ccyuḱ byistaciron l miir, wil filleḣiin l abaḋayeet dakḱalon bi jayco. Idarit l miir idarit ḱidme la ccaxb. Xammar li jsur, żabbat ṫor`aat, rammam l mabeene, bine `leex, wi ‘sur, w ḱeneet. Fataḣ w rammam l mareefi`, w macca ttijara max l ġarb, ḱaṡṡatan Ṫṫilyen. Fi fatra, l miir nnafa la xindon, wi sta`balo Kosmos II, ibn Ferdinando I, lli keen sadii` l miir w duq Toscana. Hawniik bi Oropa lta`a l miir max l Ispan wil Baba. Keen xindo kameen xale`eet max li Franj.

Xa iyyem l miir l balad zdahar wi nfataḣ xal xaalam. Finneniin w mhandsiin ṡaaro yijo xa Libnen w ḱallo min nafson fii. Ddayr ka`anna tiḣfit Renaissance. Fiha fann Toscana, w nafḣa minil Andalus, w majd w jameel Libnen, ka`anna aṡiide mxalla`a xa jbiin l jabal. L aṡr markaz ḣikmo wil ḱeen byista`bil zzuwar min siyesiyye la tijjar, la msefriin, la mḣibbiin. L balad xam byizdihir taḣt ḣikmo. Nnees bit`addir ciġlo w tiḋḣiyaato. Xtamad yḣassin zziraxa, w yiftaḣ l madeeris, wi ymidd anaweet rray la ccurb wi ss`eeye, wi yxammir mistacfayeet, w yista`bil anaaṡil min l ġarb. Ṫibaaxa ntacarit wil iqtiṡaad ṫṫawar wi tḣassanit l ḣayeet. Bi majeel l musi`a ṡaar fi orchestra la tixzof bil munesabeet. Bi zyeede xal xud, wi nnay, wi rrabeebe, wi zzammur, wi ṫṫabl, wil enun, ṡaar fi l guitar, wil kamanja, wil harp, w li piano wil orgue. Zhur Oropa w nabeteeta ṡaarit tiṫlax ḣawl l bayt w bil ḣa`le. Ttut ṡaar xal muḋa w maxo dud l azz, w tijaarit l ḣariir. Ṡinaaxit l fikḱar w ṡinaxit li `zeez, w ṡinaaxit l ḣadiid lli xiṫyit cluf lal bina wi syuf lal xaskar wi sleeḣ l madeefix wil baneedi`, killa ṫṫawwarit. Min ci aliil madiinit Venezzia isma l bundu`iyye ḣasab ccaxb l Libnene?

L miir kameen xammar la nafso, w xaylto, wil ḣeecye aktar min maskan, minnon aṡr bi Bayrut, Aṡr li Ṡnubar. Ariib min caxbo ma baddo yismax miin makeen w cu makeen. Byaxrif ḣeejeto w taṫalloxato, ra`yo w nawayee, w bidiss nabaḋ albo. Faw` kill cii, xa iyyemo, ṡaar fi ḣirriye. Nnees bit`ul cu fi bi bela w bitne`co xalanan. Wil miir bicajjix nnees tceerik bi ḣayeet l balad w maṡiiro. Ḣatta fi nisween ṡaaro yna``o rjeelon, wi rjeel bitna``e nisweena. Yimkin miceen hayk l miir ṡaafin w seekit. Arḋ Libnen bi alb kill Libnene. Marra bi`e minna xiṫr w marra ṫaxmit mrura mitl milḣ l baḣr. Marra xiṫyit misk w marra xiṫyit wajax, marra ḣizn w marra amal, marrat dmux w marra ibtiseme, marrat iṡaṡ w marra, karame w majd w faḱr.

L miir ṡaar ṡawb Ddayr xa ḋḋohr. Caxbo w ahlo naaṫriino ta yidḱol l mansur xa mdiinto w yiḣtifil maxxon bil muneesabe. Kill cii jeehiz wi mrattab. Bas ḱalle l miir yuṡal ta tballic ddabke, l oof wi zzilof, zzajal wi rradeet, kees l xara` wil laḣm l micwe, l kibbe nnaye wil aṡbe, wi ttabule, l laḣm bxajiin wi ssfiiḣa li bxalbakiyye, l xadas bḣaamoḋ, li mjaddara, l ḣommos bi ṫḣiine, l biira wi nnbiid, l fisto` wil fisto` l ḣalabe, ḱibz ttannur wil ḱibz l xarabe, l ḱibz li franje wil ḱibz Ṫṫilyene. Ḣatta l ḱayl naṫrita l mayy wi ccxiir, w fi akil w corb la li jmeel w la ddaweeb kameen. Fi mne`iic, bi zaxtar w zayt, w kick, bi awarma w bi dihn, kibbe `ras w sambusik, w ṫolme jdiide isma pizza. Xa iyyem l miir, ttijara micyit. Ṡaarit l maweerid truḣ min Libnen wayn maken w tije la xindo. L imaara ṡaarit la Xakka bi Flisṫiin, w Tadmur, Ḣoms w Ḣama, w Intakya bi Suriyya. Ttijara max l ġarb daḱḱalit xa Libnen l banadura, l baṫaṫa, ddura, ttabġ wi ttanbak min Amerka. Bas l ḣaciice xan iyyem rruman min li B`eex. Ḣatta bi Bxalbak marsume xal ḣiṫaan max l xariic wil xinab bi maxbad Baaḱos, bliz`il Alxa. L argileet naaṫra wi sswegiir badda miin ydakḱina. Ṡṡabaya bi aḣla tyeeba w ḣeleeta. Wi ccabeeb ahlan fiyon. Fi xraas naaṫra tṡiir. Wil aḣla min hayk, rjeel ddin mawjudiin w ḣaaḋriin. Waynak ya Miir, ya Libnen, ya Baṫal? Amtiin min ballic?

Yimkin ma ḣada yaxrif yawman ma cu ṡaar bi żżabt. Yimkin ḱayeele w ḱayeel l baxḋ halla` xam byiḣke. L miir ma daḱal xal madiine. Xa bweeba albo seel wi nhamar. Mitl l maṫar, mitl ttalj lli xam bidub bi awwal Niseen wi byifroṫ taḣt ti`lo, mitl ssayl l jeere max l xawaaṡif, mitl l ġaym l aswad l haabiṫ xa ddine, mitl zzaweexi`, l bar` wi rraxd, l miir wi ḣṡaano, baxd ma keen jeeye min Ḋahr l Baydar, li Mdayrij, Xayn Zḣalta, l Baruk, li Fraydiis, Kfar Nabraḱ wi Kfar Qatra, nizil bil wadeeya min li Mxaaṡir, la Btaddiin hille kameen isma Bayt Ddin, la Kfar Ḣiim, la Dayr Duriit. Aṫax xa Nabx l Aḱwit mitl l majnun, maḣall ma byilti`o Weede Ddayr wi Bniḣlayy, w lee`a bi Sirjbeel w Binwayte Nabx l Ḣameem, lli jeeye min Jjeehliyye, `beel Xayn l Ḣawr, taḣt Ġariife. Aṫax xan tiyyeeb Caxya, wloo, max`ul? Tiyyeb Caxya xeele ktiir. Bil aḣra, yimkin mara` min ḣaddo aw ḣawlo. Ṡaar l miir yisrix, ka`anno l mayy wi rriiḣ xam bitseeb`o, w marrat byisba`a. Ṫṫyur mitl li ġṡun bitrafrif w btiġarred, wil miir xam bici` sabiilo. Mara` min taḣt l xawde wil ḱalle, ccmiis wi rrijme, Ciir Camxariin wi li B`ayxa, Ddibiyye wi li Fḱayte, Tallit Rrus, wi Dmiit, w ṫall xal Micrif. Ta ḣatta ṡabb bi Mal`a Nnahrayn xind Sahl Ddamur.

Lamma wiṡil l miir xa ssahl ṡaarit ccams badda tġiib. Ka`anna hiyye w xam tinzal bil baḣr btirsom xa wijj l mayy ṫarii` killa nur, lawna mitl l laymun bi li bsetiin lli ḣawalay. L miir ḣann w ree` xal machad, w ṡaar yitmacca ḣadd caṫṫ l baḣr, ḣadd li ṡṡḱur, xal boḣṡ wi rramel, marra xa ḣṡaano, marra meece xal arḋ ḣaddo. L miir ṡaar mitl l walad, w bi hafwito aṫax Ssaxdiyyeet, w ṡaar bi Ḱaliij l Jiyye, bi Iqlim l Ḱarrub.

Lamaḣ l miir xa caṫṫ rraml ṡiyyadiin. Fi naar wi xlaya samak micwe, ḣaddon fi zawra` zġiir. "Tfaḋḋal, ahlan wa sahlan, carraftna". Ibil l miir l xaziime w akal maxxon. Hiyye w xam bitwaddix ccams, abil ma yinzal l layl bi njumo xa ddine, rafraf ciraax min bxiid, ka`anno maxzufit ṡala min l mawj ṡawb ssama wil ofoq. Wijj l miir ḋawwa w ṡaar xam byibtisim.

Iza ci yawm bitruḣo xa Libnen, w bitzuro balad l miir, yimkin btirjaxo bitcufu xal maġiib, aw bi ssahl, aw bil jabal, xa ci tall aw ci nabxa, ḱyeel l miir, aw btismaxo ṡahiil ḣṡano max nasmeet l weede, w yimkin iza bitziiḣo ġoṡn aḱḋar bi ḣunuu bitcufu wijjo mitl l amar. Yimkin baxdo xam byirkoḋ xa nnahr wi yci`` sabiilo. Yimkin iza sa`alto xanno bi Ddayr ydillukon xa aṡro aw xal Wadeeya. W iza ṫṫalaxto xal baḣr ma tinso iṡṡit l miir hille yawm bahjto, tarak kill cii, wi tḱalla xan xażamto bi kill tawaḋox. Yawma l arḋ mitl ssama dawwitlo. Neem laylita w caxbo byizkro w biḣibbo la ḣadd l yawm.


Copyright Hicham Khalil Bourjaili, January 2007, May 2009, Connecticut, United States of America



English Version


The Stillness of the Prince


Lebanon looks like two necklaces. At the west, Mount Lebanon lays on the sea shore of the Mediterranean Sea, full of pearls from hills and mounts. Among them the Cedar Forests could be found. His brother sleeps next to him where the sun rises, similar to a chain, the Anti Lebanon. Between them stretches the Bekaa Valley, irrigated by the Litaany River. If you traveled north and followed the Oronte River you would reach Antioch. From the South, from the Harmon, waters flow into the Jordan River. South of Lebanon lay the Galilee and Samaria territories and Jerusalem City. From there extends the desert. East of Lebanon, the Sham Country has Damascus for capital, and its water is supplied by the Barada River. North of it, you will find Aleppo. More to the north you will reach the area of Mardeen. More to the East you will find Mesopotamia, Persia and Kurdistan. Ararat tops the heights from Armenia.

The Phoenician Cities are still there: Jbeil, Beirut, Sidon and Tyre, with Tripoli and Baalbek. Acre became part of Palestine and Arwad of Syria. Carthage is a pearl in Tunisia. Phoenicia left its traces all around the Mediterranean, from Cyprus, to Italy and Spain, to Marseilles in France, to Algeria, to Morocco and to Libya. Even the libraries in Egypt and Mesopotamia uncovered by archeologists and scientists, contain correspondence records with Phoenicia or writings dealing with it. The heart of the historic Lebanon gorges with vestiges, art and mysteries: the Sacred Valley "Kadisha" and the Taym Valley, the Templar Châteaufort in the South and the Castle of the Kurds in the North, Bayt Mire and Baytiddin, Dayr l Qamar and Damur, Shtura and Anjar, the Summit of Black Corner and Mount Sannine, Mount Knayse and Mount Baruk, Mount Niha and Mount Amil, the Nabatiyye and Jizzin, Rashayya and Haasbayya, Afqa and Kfar Dibyeen, Marjeyun and Bint Jbeil, Zahle and Ras Baalbak, the Hirmil and Akkar, Sidon and Sarepta, Tyre and Acre, Cana and Maghdushe, Jbeil and the Batroun, Tripoli and the Kura, Kisirwen and the Matin, Baabda and Aley, Bsharre and Zgharta, Emessa and Hama, the Valley of the Christians and Tartus, the West Bekaa and the Shuf. Many other towns and villages were not here listed since they cannot be counted in few lines and their stories told in few words.

It was like yesterday when the battle ended in the plain, at Anjar, the palace of the Omeyyades. The army of the prince was victorious and the army of the Ottoman governor of the Province of Damascus was defeated. The governor himself fell prisoner. But the prince treated him with dignity and respect. The governor came back to his province but his pride was humiliated. Thanks to the battle outcome, the prince assured peace to his principality. However, the prince knew in his heart that no defeated governor would remain still after his defeat. After all, is not the prince principality under his jurisdiction? How would the governor accept his defeat and let himself and his pride be cut down, and still appear with self-esteem and dignity in front of other governors and the Sultan? Though the victory was a true one, after the joy a storm would be coming, for sure it would come from the Sublime Door in Istanbul. No governor has ever had his word rescinded, or his revenge forgotten unless his head fell. Then what the failing governor failed to do, a new governor more violent and cynical than him would wage a military campaign and achieve it.

The prince reached the top of the mountain. Behind him laid the sun and the plain. Ahead of him extended the valleys, the hills, and afar the sea. Around him his army and his people accompanied him. He could have boasted about his victory, the victory of his army and people, his government and his administration, and of all his principality. Yet, the prince was silent. Bells heralded before him his victory to all, from cliff to cliff, from valley to valley, from hill to hill, from mount to mount, and in all plains. The prince had also reporters that he sent to spread the news of the victory. Some communicated with horns and drums, others with fire. The country was singing and playing music, and inflamed with joy and exultation. God is the Most High and the Most Generous. May his bounty increases. But the prince on his horse was going his way slowly, majestic, as if his great silence was the standard against which joy was to be measured.

Some people were talking about the heroes of the battle. Women were singing songs of joy and throwing rice and flowers. Children were jumping with bows and arrows from branches, and rubber bands like artillery, and swords from reeds and branches of pomegranate. Some people were worried, asking about their children, their brothers, their fathers, their uncles, maternal and paternal, their husbands and their grand-fathers. They watched, searched, waited, and asked for them. Where were they? "Your son, lady, is a hero", "Your dad, son, is incredible", "I know your husband, he is my best friend", "I was honored to meet him". Many words were told beyond description. Sometimes, somebody appeared and faces that were sad would smile and laugh again. Other times, patience lasted for long and nobody came.

The prince was coming down to the Dayr City. Its complete name was Dayr l Qamar or Dayr l Amar, put simply Ddayr. In Lebanon, many accents were spoken; each village had an accent and each neighborhood its characteristics, and each person a voice. The accent varies smoothly, as a wave following each hill and each plain, each valley and each mount, the breeze and the waves, the moon and each star.
Nature in Lebanon is varied, generous and beautiful. Trees and the vegetation, rocks and birds, like the seasons and the weather, crown and nurture the whole country. The inhabitants of the mountain gave names to everything in their country according to their accents: from gravel to stones, from rocks to cliffs, from springs to flowing waters, from streams to rivers. They talk about a passage and a ravine. They gave names to pieces of land depending on whether they irrigated them and how they used them, whether they bought them or rented them, their location, size and yield: some were rented other were dug, and both were watered; some were located at the outskirt other in sunny spots, and both received their water from rain and dew; some were rocky and flattened by hand work, other were flat and sandy; some were called vineyards and other orchards; some were measured in acres other by square meters, some harvests were assessed in half tons of pounds of yield and other in units of five pounds. People defined the land from the terrace to the line of water, to the mill, from built pools to natural bodies of water, from the road to the bridge; they inferred about air and the wind, the fog and the clouds, in brief about everything from the land, to the sea and the sky.

The villages and the houses surrounded the prince, in front of him and around him, with each mount side like an open page to whom would like to read, and each valley like a sanctuary for solitude and contemplation. Some kinds of trees filled the woods, other provided fruits and other decorated the places. Trees followed the mounts and the hills, the plains and the seasons, and the rivers. Some trees held the ground from sliding, some protected from sunburns and air blows, some were meant to feed the fire for cooking and heating, some were fit for wood work, some were used for grafting, some gave our food, and some trees were beautiful. The people of the mountain transformed the wilderness by building the terraces and planting them, so they became like the suspended gardens of Babylon.

The woods like the gardens became part of the villages. Umbrella pine trees, and other pine varieties, and the Cedar of God, the oak and the beech trees, though they usually grew in the wilderness, they also grow between houses. Pine trees surround gardens, embrace roads and monasteries. People built their homes among the trees or planted them for reforestation. Olive trees, vine trees and fig trees filled the vineyards and cellars. The almond trees and the carob trees like jujube and azarole trees, and the blue berry trees, grow in non irrigated land, having enough water from rain. Apples, cherries and peaches taste better from trees planted at the high altitude. Prune, green prune, pear, apricot, medlar, pomegranate and persimmon trees grow better at mid altitude. Bananas, orange and a variety of lemon trees, melon and honey dew, palm trees that yield dates, are more suited to grow at the littoral. Cactus figs need warmth and grow in both irrigated and non irrigated areas. Walnut trees like the Persian reeds need water, and spear above houses and other trees. Popular and quinine trees, sycamore and willow need humidity. The laurel symbolizes victory. The China tree keeps away mosquitoes and flies, and provides parents with sticks to educate their children, and the children make from its branches swords and sticks to educate each other. Bamboo and straws are used in the manufacture of chairs, platters and tables. In the plain everything grows.

The plants and the flowers are greatly appreciated. They who understand them and prescribe them are called Arab doctors. They who contemplate them are the philosophers. And ladies know how to decorate their houses and all around with flowers. Roses in all colors spread their perfumes over the land and hold company to lovers and weddings. Lilies are better dressed than the king Salomon. Daffodils, cyclamens, red poppies, basil, carnations, and daisies, fish mouths and gardenia, lilies of the valley and jasmines, ambergris and gillyflowers fill the earth at spring. Kids gather flower bouquets each spring to offer on Good Friday, after having cut all green branches that their hands could reach on Palm Sunday. Some plants are gathered from the wilderness for domestic consumption like dandelion, water grass, lemon stick, pain patch, head underground, thyme and sweet weed, for salads and pickles. Herb teas are also gathered, from hyssop and chamomile, almond like leaves and saffron, linden trees and ring like herbs. Green berries are eaten or smashed to be used as balm, the linula viscosa and the stingers are used for medicine. The perfume plant is used in making jam, especially fig jam with sesame. Basil is a delicacy used in the raw kibbe recipe, along with mint and olive oil decorating the dish.

Lebanon is overwhelmed by a vibrant flora. Each breezy wind bears a perfume of some kind; each flower has a bee, each grain has an ant, each branch has a bug, and birds could be seen, sparrows, nightingales or crows. Swallows pay a visit to every single orchard in September. Partridges sleep in the wild on stones with one leg standing. Falcons and eagles gyre in the space filling the skies and clearing the earth from snakes and rodents. Bee eaters carry the mail for lovers according to beautiful songs. Pigeons fly with each mosque prayer. Wasps and hornets invite themselves to tables and share grilled meats without authorization. Earth-worms and snails become active after rain along with reptiles. White lizards and lizards jump on stones and walls, and eye the ceiling. Spiders ambush all places. Worms scare the little kids. Grasshoppers devastate crops and flatter cats. Mice invade all cellars. Rats have no shame of anyone. Chameleons steal the colors from the branches and pose for hunting, like frogs on pools with their voices going with the water. Turtles live near the rivers, and crabs and fish await fishermen. Hyenas, lions, jackals and wolves sometimes frighten people and sometimes flee people. Foxes befriend chicken that would prefer living without them. Cattle of goat and sheep wander on the hills followed by the dogs, and the shepherds watch on them and fill the air with the music of their horns and the sighs of their flutes. And the moon in Lebanon looks close, as if hiding behind each branch. The mountain and the sky seem to be neighbors here, with the sea altogether.

Farmers in the mountain know to benefit from each spot in their houses and around them. Vine trees grow on the roofs. Grapes and figs could be picked some in the summer and some in the winter. Containers hold olive oil and syrups, dates and dried figs, raisins and anisette. Barrels are filled with wine, red and white, and pink too. Aspalathus trees could be grafted and become plum trees, almond trees or apple trees in the garden, and if left in the woods they will blossom in the spring with yellow flowers, and below them herb gatherers will find the pain patch. Each terrace hold fruit trees with ploughs in between. Each plough would be planted with vegetables, like cabbage, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and onion. Wild cucumbers are best when grown in non irrigated spots. Some would let grow varieties of squash and pumpkin over the tree branches. Pumpkin is a winter delicacy, served with sugar or with broken wheat. The kibbe for the time of lent is made of it. Sugar is a new sweet that people use instead of honey. It could be added to coffee as a sweetener and increases its flavor with the cardamom. Sometimes it could be added to Indian or Chinese tea. Squash, cabbage, and grape leaves are stuffed. The ablama dish requires a special type of squash, like the zucchini. Some would grow potatoes, carrots and eggplants, and not from long time ago beets and sugar canes. Eggplants are pickled, stuffed or served as a puree. Always parsley and coriander are available. The tabbule dish dominates all tables. Some would also grow chick peas, lentils, wheat, barley, and rice, and anew beans, peas and corns. Grains are good for health, and their conservation and cooking are relatively easy. Some grains go to the cellars and other would be sown at the fitting time.

In general homes are surrounded by gardens, and sometimes a water courant flows nearby whether naturally or through built waterways, and other times they have an inside pool with a water jet. Some houses have wells. Flowers are all around decorating and coloring the windows, and they welcome with warmth the visitors. Alike the inhabitants of the house, they say to the visitors "You honor us" and "The place is yours". Some homes have chicken houses, for eggs and rooster meat on happy days. Some raise cows for milk and meat, and sheep for wool and grease, and celebrations on feast days. On those days, rams and male goats are slaughtered. Slaughter houses were opened, and people learnt to make cheese and dairy products. Yet the drained yogurt is still home made, and so is the kishik. The kishik is the king of soups, a source of nutrients and life in the winter. It is made of broken wheat and yogurt. After mixing them and leaving them to ferment, they are rolled in ball shapes and exposed to sunlight on a sheet. At night they are brought home for protection from the dew. When dried, the balls are smashed and yield a thin powder-like product. The kishik could be conserved in a bag or a dry glass container. In winter hot water could be added with garlic and sheep grease. The soup could be eaten with bread. This is a pure and genuine recipe from the times of my grandmother and my grandfather.

Each family has a cone shaped metal piece called saaj for baking bread, and baking has its rules, success and celebration. Wheat flower bags are transported by mules or donkeys to each house. Muleteers are respected in the country. Supplies are kept in a special basement protected from mice by cats. Dough is prepared the evening before baking, and yeast is added to have it leavened. Neighbors would come early in the morning of the baking day and help in the process of thinning the dough pieces and then stretching them to the desired size of the bread. Men could sometimes help in preparing the dough. But stretching the dough is a competition among women. Because young ladies who would like to pick their fiancés should prove they could feed the family. And women who would like their husbands to stay with them and be proud of them should always take care of the house and be leaders in completing chores. Children also have their share. They gather the pine needles that fell and dried, and will be used to feed the fire under the saaj. For those who have not seen it, the saaj looks like the top of a dome. When heated, the stretched dough, thin like a thin paper and adhering to a round pillow, is put over it to bake. The best hour of the day is the hour when the kids sit to eat the hot bread with olive oil and thyme, drained yogurt and tomato, and neighbors like their hosts all serve themselves with bread and baked loaves made of dough that was not stretched. Some loaves have thyme on top of them, other kishik with pepper, and other sheep grease. Other people have built a distillation set to manufacture the anisette. O Yeh, how nice it is to sit next to it and taste the anisette distilled twice and three times! How bountiful it is to watch the night and chat with a cup made of crushed grapes distilled with anis!

Refugees who came to Lebanon brought their accents with them and added to the linguistic variety of the country. Invaders left their imprints in the language, in the stones and in the people. Allies also contributed to the wealth of the country. Among them the Kurds enrolled in the prince army. Indeed, under the reign of the prince all people mixed and mingled, and started understanding each other whatever their accents were. The Dayr City is its capital and like all the rest of Lebanon it became a colorful paradise, a jewel in the wilderness, an oasis in the desert. It includes a mosque, a synagogue, and the Church of Our Lady, the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, from the diocese of Sidon. Its homes are built from stones topped with a red bricks roof, and from the stones of the Sayfa family in Akkar the prince built his palace. In the middle of the city there is a plaza, and at its center there are water jets. People would meet there and drink from the water, talk, chat and come up with projects. They also celebrate there special occasions, holidays, festivals and hold game shows and competitions. Around the plaza merchants have their stores opened, and other would come from neighboring localities or from afar either to market their products or to shop. You could find craftsmen, metal cleaners, contractors, and artists advertising their services.

On the same plaza, you could find the prince headquarters and his palace. Since the prince took power the country has kept developing. The prince has called all the people to participate in the life of the country without discrimination based on any criteria relating to sectarian, religious or ethnic background. Even women have their position in society and they are respected. The mother of the prince is the Lady Nasab and all the people love her. Her word is a word at home and in country affairs. She has been behind the prince since his father Kurkumez died and he was still a child. She raised him with the Khazen family in Kisirwen. The prince knew from the start of his government how to unite his people. All sects are represented in his administration, and all the social classes are represented in the Lebanese State as well, and have a role in the country affairs. The notables and heads of the feudal system are consulted by the prince, and valiant peasants joined his army. The prince administration delivers services to the people. He built bridges, opened and maintained roads, repaired old buildings, built castles, palaces and hostels. He opened and revamped the sea ports and country relays, and initiated commerce with the west, especially with the Italians. For a period, the prince was exiled to Italy, and he was welcomed there by Cosmos II, son of Ferdinando I, who was a friend of his and the Duke of Toscana. There in Europe, the prince met the Spaniards and the Pope. He had also contacts with the Franks.

Under the prince government, the country prospered and became open to the world. Artists and engineers started coming to Lebanon and left in the country pieces of themselves. The Dayr City is like a Renaissance piece of art. It has the art of Toscana, a breath from the Andalus, and the glory and beauty of Lebanon as if it was a poem suspended on the front of the mountain. The palace is the center of government and the hostel receives visitors like politicians and traders, travelers and friends. The country is prospering under his government. The people appreciate his work and sacrifices. He committed to improving agriculture, opening schools, developing a water system for irrigation and drinking water, building hospitals, and welcoming Consuls from the West. Press printing became widespread, economy made progress and the quality of life improved. In the field of music, orchestras were born to play for special occasions. In addition to the traditional lute, flute, one cord instrument, the horn, and the drum, and the oriental flat harp, new instruments were incorporated including the guitar, the violin, the harp, the piano and the organ. The flowers of Europe and its plants started growing around the homes and in the fields. Millbury trees could be found commonly and with them grew caterpillar farms and the commerce of silk. Pottery, glass industry, and metallurgy that gave metal sticks for construction, swords for soldiers, and artillery and guns to the troops, all these industries developed. Would you notice that the City of Venice is named the "Gun" according to the Lebanese people?

The prince has also built for himself, his family and his court more than one residence, among them the palace of Beirut also called the pine palace. He is close to his people and does not want to listen to idle talk whoever and wherever it came from. The prince knows his people needs and aspirations, views and intentions, and probes the people's heartbeat. Above all, under his government, people enjoyed liberty. They could say what is on their mind and discuss it openly. And the prince encourages people to participate in the life and destiny of their country. Even women could pick their husbands and men their wives. It may be the reason the prince is quiet and focused. The land of Lebanon is in the heart of each Lebanese citizen. At times it left a perfume and at other bitterness similar to the taste of the sea salt. Some times it gave incense and at other times pain, sometimes consternation and at other times hope, many times tears and one time a smile, many times stories and one time, dignity and glory and pride.

At noon the prince was about to reach the Dayr City. His people and his family are waiting for the victor to enter his town and celebrate with them. All is ready and in order. Let the prince come and we will start, the dance with the traditional songs and their choirs, the clinking glass cups filled with anisette and the service of grilled meat, raw kibbe and liver, the tabbule, the disc like and small square like baked dough with meat, the lentils and lemon soup, the lentils jelly, the hummus, beer and wine, pea nuts and pistachio, one loaf bread and two loaves bread, the French bread and the Italian bread. Even horses will be served water and barley, and camels and donkeys will have what to eat and drink. There are loaves with olive oil and thyme, and kishik, and sheep heavy grease, discs of kibbe and crescent like baked dough stuffed with meat or cheese, and new loaves called pizza. Under the prince government, commerce prospered. The country started exporting and importing goods to and from everywhere. The principality territory reached Acre in Palestine, and Palmyra, Emessa and Hama, and Antioch in Syria. Commerce with the West brought to Lebanon the tomato, the potato, corn and tobacco from America. But cannabis dated back to the Romans and it is from the Bekaa. Even in Baalbek, it is sculpted on the walls along with vine trees and grapes in the temple of Bacchus, next to the castle. Narguiles are waiting and cigarettes are looking for who to smoke them. Young ladies have put on their best dresses and are elated. Welcome to the boys. Many weddings are waiting for celebration. And the best of all, religious ministers are there and ready. Where are you O Prince, O Lebanon, O Hero? When are we going to start?

What happened next might remain a mystery for ever. It could be at this point that my imagination or the imagination of some that is taking over reality. The prince did not enter the city. At its doors his heart melted and fell. Like rain, like snow melting in early April and falling apart under its own weight, like floods running with storms, like dark clouds falling on earth, like lightening strikes, the lightening and the thunder, the prince in company of his horse, after he came from Dahr l Baydar passage, and the villages of Mdayrij, Ayn Zhalta, the Baruk, Fraydis, Kfar Nabrakh and Kfar Katra, went down the valleys between the Maasir, Btaddin also called Baytiddin, Kfarhim and Dayr Durit. He passed by the Fool Spring like a crazy, where the Dayr Valley and the Bnihlay Valley meet, and he met in Sirjbel and Biwayte villages the Spring of Pigeons and Bathing, that comes from the village of Jehliyye, facing the village of Ayn l Hawr, below the village of Gharife. He crossed Isaiah pool, waw, is that possible? The fall is too high. It is more likely he passed next to it or around it. The prince is speeding, as if water and wind were racing with him, and sometimes he would pass them. Birds like branches are waving and chirping, and the prince is opening his way. He went by all types of cultivated land, the cliff of Shamaarin, the Bkayaa farm, the Dibbiyye village and the Fkhayte hamlet, the Hill of the Heads and the Russians, and the Dmit village, and the Hill of the Honorable Supervisor. Then he joined the Two Rivers in the plain of Damour.

When the prince reached the plain, the sun was about to set. When descending into the sea the sun would draw on the face of the water a path of light, with a color similar to the oranges in the surrounding gardens. The prince felt nostalgia and peace at the sight, and he started walking next to the seashore and the rocks, on gravel and sand, at times on his horse and at other times next to it on earth. The prince felt like a child, and caught in his state of mind he passed by the Saadiyyet, and entered the Golf of Jiyye in the District of the Carob.

The prince spotted on the sand beach fishermen. There was a fire with grilled fish and next to it a small boat. "Please come, you are welcome and we are honored by your presence." The prince accepted the invitation and ate with them. At the sun last farewell, before the fall of the night with its stars over the land, a sail waved from afar, as a melody for prayer sent from the waves towards heaven and the horizon. The prince face was illuminated and he smiled.

If one day you go to Lebanon and visit the country of the prince, you might see at dusk, or in the plain, or in the mountain, on a hill or a spring, his shadow, or hear the neighing of his horse with the valley breeze, and you might see as well when removing a green branch kindly his face like the moon and like a flower. He might be still running by the river and opening his way. You might ask about him in the Dayr City and people would direct you to his palace and the Valleys. And if you looked at the sea, do not forget the story of the prince who on the day of his exultation, left everything, and abandoned his greatness in all humility. On that day the earth like heaven were illuminated for him. He slept that night and his people still remember him and love him till today.



Copyright Hicham Khalil Bourjaili, August 2009, Connecticut, United States of America