Arḋi (My land) A poem by Maroun Kassab
Copyright Maroun Ghassan Kassab 2009
Copyright Maroun Ghassan Kassab 2009
Jbeel W Asraar Teene Lawḣa
Copyright Hicham Khalil Bourjaili, January 2007, May 2009
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. Byinzed 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.
Niḣna b xomor hirben asrax min ġazel
La tḋayxii b mḣallale w mḣarrameWe live in an age fleeing faster than a deer
Do not waste your days with banned and allowed
La tḋayxi forṡit wujudik bil jidel
Do not waste the opportunity of your existance in argument
B afwit ḱabar majhul naṫorna zzaweel
Behind an unknown event, our end awaits
Zikrik maxii mitl l xaṡaayi la ḋḋariir
I carry your memory like the blind man carries his walking stick
Caw`i la ruḣik caw` minfi la ddiyaar
I long to your soul as an exile longs for home
Darb l bideeyi min kitir daxs ddhur
Nixmit w min ġabraatha ceb zzamenThe path of our beginning has become smooth
From the passing of time upon its route
And from its dust, time grew its white hair
Tmarrad ḋamiir ṫṫiin w nfak l lḣeem
The conscious of dirt has revolted, and it broke the weld
Ya rayt eedir icbul nhaari sini
W yintihi xomri l mlattam b żżalaam
Bala jmiiltik…riddi traabik ya dini
Afḋal ili ma cuf nees mxazzabiin
W b kil cibr traab xaḋm w jimijmiI wish I could compress my years in a day
And my life in darkness would end today
I don’t want your charity… take your dust back, oh life,
It’s better than seeing tortured people
And in every foot of earth, a skull and a bone
Jbeel W Asraar-Teelit Lawḣa
Copyright Hicham Khalil Bourjaili, January 2007, April 2009, May 2009
Bixtirif
Manṡur cabb raṡiin min xaylit nees caġġiile. Kill xumro byekol min xara` jbiino. Lamma bayyon meet, Abu Ḱaliil, Alla yirḣamo, keeno kill wleedo zġaar. Immon mara adiira w bitġaar xlayon. Bas la waḣda cu badda tlaḣḣi`. Hiyye keenit tictiġil w hinne min awwal ṫalxiṫon biseexduwa. Aṡlon min xinna, min l jabal. Leekin tarako ḋḋayxa min zameen wi `leel lli bi`yo ycufuwon. Hal wleed ribyo yateema bas iid bil iid, mitḋamniin, biseexdo w biḣibbo baxḋon. Immon xa raason, w hinne bikarrmuwa. Ballaco yictiġlo min hinne wi zġaar bil xamaar. L feexil l amiin wi ccaaṫir keen ilo iimto.
Bi haydiik l iyyeem, bil ḱamsineet wi ssittineet, keenit Bayrut baxda bsetiin. Fiya laymun, w zaytun, wi fweeke. Fiya ḣraac min ṡṡnubar, wi xyuun mayy, w xaalam btictiġil. Cajar rrimeen xal muuḋa, w cajar zziine kameen mitl l kiina xa bulvaar Kamiil Camxun. Fiya byut ḣawla janeeyin zhur. La ḣadd l yawm baxd fi asar bil aseeme min haydiik l iyyeem l adiime lammin keenit l arḋ wi nnees xeyciin sawa: Xayn Rrimeene w Xayn Ttiine, Nnabxa wi Nnahr, Ṡṡnubra wi Jjimayze, Ṫṫayyune wi Ṫṫiḣwiiṫa, l Mazraxa wil Maṫaaḣin, Ḣirc Bayrut w Ḣirc Teebit, Sahil Kfar Ciima wi Ccwayfeet, Aṡr Ṡṡnubar w Sinn l Fiil, Tallit l Ḱiyyaaṫ w Wede Bu Jmiil. Ṡṡḱur kameen ila aseeme, mitl Rrawce, yimkin li anna Raas bi Ssiryene mitl Roc, aw tizkaar min li Franj xala nasa` Le Rocher.
Mansur w iḱiwto ṡaaro yiltizmo wirac. Warce baxd warce, macrux baxd macrux, bineeye wara bineeye, maxeerif min hawn w maxeerif min hawniik, min hawn la hawn, ṡaf`a baxd ṡaf`a, ha ccabeeb xeemo faw` rriiḣ. Ṡaaro milyoneriyye. Baxd xazeeb ṫṫufuule wi ccabeeb, ka anno nfataḣit ddine bi wijjon. Mitl ma min`ul: lli byizrax bilee`e. Bi haydiik l iyyeem lli keen baddo yaxmil ci min ḣeelo keen byi`dir.
L balad keen bi izdihaar xala rroġm min Sawrit li Tmeene w Ḱamsiin (1958). L Amarken nizlo xa Libnen w haddo l waḋix. Laa ṡaar l balad jiz` min Surya w laa min Miṡr, w laa min l Jumhuriyye l Xarabiyye l Muttaḣide hille ḋammit bi haydek l wa`it hal baladayn la fatra. Ka anno Libnen hal balad zzġiir baddo yḋallo yi`nax ḣeelo bi wujuudo wi ḱṡuṡiyyaato. Marraat iza byinsa, ġayro bizakkro. Min iyyeem l Faraaxne lal yawm Miṡr bitḣinn la ilo. Min iyyeem Acuur w Beebil, l Firs w Maqdunia wil Yuneen, l Xarab wil Umawiyye wil Xibbesiyye, Ṡṡalibiyye wil Ayyubiyye, l Mamaliik wil Xismeniyye, l Jazzar wi Mḣammad Xali Baaca, Napoleon I w Napoleon III, Charles De Gaulle w Woodruf Wilson, Aal Suxuud w Aal Bahlawe, ġayron w ġayron, ha l balad mḣibbiino ktaar ta nsammiyon. Ḱallina nirjax baxd marra wi n`ul la nafsna w la ilon: law ḣabbaynekon w ḣabbaytuna, baytna biḋall baytna w baytkon baytkon, w ahla w sahla fikon bi dyarna. Mitl ma bit`ul Fayruz: zuruna kill sine marra. Ḣaram! Ma cceexir l xarabe kameen bi`ul “mina l ḣubbi ma qaṫal”. Wille biḣibb ccixr ma byi`tol cceexir w biḣarrim ccuxuur aw byiḣro` arḋ l ilheem. Wa laww, ma cceexir, wi ccuxuur, wil arḋ wil ilhem ilon ḱeeli`. Hille byictom maḱlu` byitḣadda Rabb l Xaalamiin.
L xamaar assar bi Bayrut ktiir, la daraje inno kill injeez mixmeere keen yiṫbax manṫa`to killa. Kill ḣayy, kill jiire ṡaaro maxrufiin bi isim bina mxayyan. Nnees btiḣke ci xan birj, ci xan jisr, mitl Birj Ḣammuud w Jisr l Baaca, marraat xan ci saraay, aw ci hotel, ci dawra ṡaarit Ddawra, w dikkeene Ddikweene, ci hawniik sidd xiṫe Sidd l Bucriyye w ḣaddo bina jdiid maxruf bil Jdayde. Bi alb Bayrut ṡaar fi Seeḣit l Birj w Seeḣit Ccuhada, w Seexit li Mdawwar. Ma tinso kameen l Matḣaf, Suu` Ṡṡaaġa w Suu` Nnuriyye, Hotel Dieu w Mistacfa Rrum, Mistacfa l Jimmayze wi Ssaint Charles l Fiyyaḋiyye, wil Xazariyye hille hiyye maytam, Madrasit li Freer bi Firn Ccibbeek wil Ma`aaṡid, Galerie Simxeen bil Ḣezmiyye w Seeḣit Sesiin bil Acrafiyye, l Ḣikme aw La Sagesse wil Jeemxa l Amirkiyye, Li Mdiine Rriyaḋiyye wi Ssaba`, l Xadliyye wil Meliyye, Badaaro wil Marfa`, l Maṫaar w Izeexit Libnen, Dar l Fatwa w Seeḣit l Barbiir, Autostrad l Uzeexe w Ḱalde, l Ḣimmeem l Xaskare w Taxawuniyyit Ddarak, Sspines wil Ḣamra, w baxd.
L maxeebid ila markaza kameen bil ḣayeet l ijtimexiyye, l waṫaniyye wi rruḣiyye. Bas ad ma ṡaar fi oteleet l weeḣid lli ma byaxrif l balad ṡaar biḋiix. Matalan, Mar Mḱeeyil kniise cahiira. Mar Jiris kameen. Bas Ssaint Georges otel! Ḣatta Finii`ya, ṡaaret kameen otel machur. Halla` bayn Mar Jiris w Finii`ya, xal aliile l Fini`iiyye kill xumron tijjaar. Leekin Mar Jiris: ya xayb ccum!
Jiryos keen cabb abaḋaay min Bayrut ḣasab iṡṡit ḣayeet hal iddiis mitl ma byiḣkuwa l Ortodoks. W keen fi bi Bayrut tinniin xam bihaddid kill ci fi ṡabaaya wil kniise kameen. Bas Jiris baṫal. Xa ḣṡano ḣeemil rimḣo w imeeno, heejamo la ttiniin w atalo. W min baxd ma atalo la ttinniin ṡaar fi saleem bi Bayrut w ḣirriyye. Hayde l iṡṡa lli xam niḣkiya ṡaaret abl ma ija Barbar Aaġa. Cu zekrit l xaalam aṡiire! Hayk byaxmlo bil iddisiin? Wloo! Bayneetna mic bass l ġuraba ṡaaro xam biḋiixo bi hal balad. Lil asaf, ṡaar fi nees min l balad ma ba`a yaxirfo l far` bayn li kniise wil masbaḣ. Cu baxd manna niḣke: baxd fi aseeme w iṡaṡ ktiir, ahlan bi lli baddo yiḣkiiha w yicraḣa. Ṫaalama killil iṡaṡ bitballic wi btiḱlas bi Fayruz, heet nġanne maxa wi n`ul: rjaxe ya Bayrut. Aaḱ! Ma aḣleek ya winis, ya Riḋa.
Mansur ṫuulo wasaṫ, kteefo xraaḋ, iday smeek, xindo cwayyit bans, wijjo reyi`, zalame meekin, byismax w bifakkir. “Ṡaar wa`it titjawwaz ya Mansur” l kill leeḣ`iino. Huwwe kameen byixjbo l mawḋux. Ṡaḣiiḣ manno ḣleewa w laa amarje. Laa ward byi`ṫof w laa zhur bi`addim. Laa mḣannak, laa m`aṫṫax w laa mwaṡṡal bas byaxrif cu baddo. Kilimto law basiiṫa, kilme. Bine ḣeelo bi ḣeelo li anno naziih wi nḋiif. Bas ṡṡabaya bi hal iyyeem, mitl ma baxḋ nnes bi`ulo, byixjibon Simon Templar, « The Saint », w James Bond. Hille la Simon w la Bond, baddo ykun xal aliile mitl Xomar Ccariif ta yiṫallaxo fii. Wa illa, ya tixtiiro. Leekin Mansur meekin, wil meekin mliiḣ mitlo, ṡṡabaya byaxmlulo exception.
Iido btil`aṫ l irc w ma bitxud tirḱii. Asmar, afandi, Mansur xlay ṡiit, ṡiit l biḱil. Leekin, mitl kill cii ḣasab baxḋ nnees, l biḱil relatif. Lli bibazzir bi samme l adiir baḱiil. Ṡaḣiiḣ l fo`r wil juux min iyyeem l Majeexa li Kbiire bi sint 1914, wil ma`eese lli abla w baxda, tarako jirḣ kbiir bi nafs l Libneniyye ajmaxiin. Layc ta niḣkom. L inseen iza mara` bi ṡxubaat biṡiir yiḣsibla. Kiif manna nlumo? Smixto ḣada cii bilum Buḱale` l Jaaḣiż? Laa`, maa ḣada bilumon, bas mnidḣak xalayon. Ḋiḣik mic mitl l lawm. Wa laww, ma niḣna kameen min`ul max l kees wi cceexir l xarabe: “daxx xanka lawme”. W baxdein mitl ma faylasuuf l Yuneen Arisṫo bi`ul, ḋḋiḣik miizit l inseen. Bas ya rayt Sskandar tilmiizo keen yaxrif yimzaḣ ci cway. Keen mitl ttawr xindo arnayn.
Ccab min baxd l fo`r wil bahdale ṡaar fii yitjawwaz lli baddo yeeha, aḣla bint min aḣla xayle. Ṡaar Mansur ḣakwaje max l xaalam, biḱabbir xan naweyee w byiḣke xan injezeeto. Kiif ṫaylax hal bineeye, kiif aḱad hal macrux, kiif sallam xa ra`iis haydiik ccirke lli mhimme, kiif haydeek l amiir l ḱaliije ṡaar yxizzo baxd ma aḱad minno haydiik l warce, w cu xindo ci`a` w amleek. Ḱabriyyeet ktiire bijiib siirita, bas l mawḋux l ahamm ṫabxan biḋall huwwe zeeto: ya maḣla l inseen ylee`e bint l ḣaleel. « Wara kill rijjel xażiim mara », hayde jimilto l mufaḋḋale. Hille byaxrfuu la Mansur byaxrfo inno hayde l ḣa`ii`a. Law ma immon waraahon la ha ccabeeb, mnayn keeno najaḣo bi ḣayeeton mitl ma najaḣo? W halla`, mitl baxd kill ḣadiis wajiih, jeeye ssiyyara w dawra, cii eeḱir model hayk w ci eeḱir ṫiraaz min aḣsan min hayk. W Bu Saliim Bu Saliim, wi Dwayk Dwayk! Aaḱ, ya raytak baxdak maxna ya Cuucu! Riḋa, xuudak rinnen, w inta waynak ya Fihmeen? Ddinye heik.
Mitl kill cabb abl ma yjiib l mademwazeel, baddo yjiib siyyara, yirkab fiya w yiḣke xanna iddem l kill w iza fii bicaffit cwayy, biḣiṫṫilla zammur ġayr cikil, binaḋḋifa w bihafhifa mitl l Liira. Ma lli baddo y`um bi ḣilwe bi hal iyyeem baddo ybarhin fii yihtamm fiya, mitl ma byihtamm bi siyyarto. Baxdayn l ḣilwiin btilba`lon siyyaraat ḣilwe. Max`ul ḣada yiṫlob ḣilwe xan ḋahr li ḣmaar? Max inno li ḣmaar cayḱ ddaweeb w rikib xlay Sayyidna l Masiiḣ w Immo, Maryam l Xadra, bi hal iyyeem rrijeel byirkab bi ssiyyara w marto btirkab xa ḋahro, xafwan, bijuz iza bi`e maḣall baxd ttiḣwiije btirkab ḣaddo! Fi kaleem ma fiina n`ulo abl ma nitjawwaz. Leekin baxd zzaweej ma bixud y`assir. Ma kill caḱṡ byaxrif inno zzaweej jaweez wi jjaweez zaweej. Miin smixto inno nlaġa zaweejo iza eel xan marto inno btirkab xa ḋahro? Bas iza eel la wiḣde abl zzawej ḣeej tirkabe xa ḋahre, seexita biṡiir mackal, la dahro w ra`bto kameen.
L muhimm, Mansur stadall xa hawniik farfura w raaḣ ḣike fiya la ahla, lli min ahil Bayrut l aṡliyye. Wil farfura ammura, miin byaxrif iza diḣkit xlay. Mansur maġrum. L araayib naṡaḣuu : « Ya Mansur mic ilak hal bint ? M`aṫṫaxa mwaṡṡale, raḣ bitkaḣkḣak ? » Bas l ġaraam byixme, wil maġrum byiṫrac. Mic inno iza faḣaṡo l ḣakiim byiṫlaxo dinay aw xinay bihon cii. Laa`, bas l ġaraam mitl l maraḋ, awwilto carda`a, w eeḱirto xaṡr haḋim. W hayk ṡaar. Riḋe ahla bil maṡaare w aḱada. Baddu ykun riḋyet hiyye kameen. Li anno bi Libnen, ṡaaro nnisween yifiksuwa. Aḣsanlak tirḋe l mara abl zzaweej, wa illa biṡiir baddak miin yirḋiik iddem l xaalam killa baxdayn.
Ijit l ḣarb bi ssabxineet. Miin maa ntakas bi hal ḣarb aw raḣlo ḣada? Alla yirḣam killil mawta. Bi hal intikeese ktiir Libneniyye seefaro. Hilli keen xindo mihne w ciġil diġre twaffa` cii xa Fransa aw Canada, cii xa Ostraalia aw xal Braziil, ci xa Ameerka. Minnon dabbaro burṡaat xa bleed ccuyuxiyye, ġayron raaḣo xal Ḱaliij aw bi`yo hawniik. Fi nees hejarit xa Afrii`ya aw bildeen Oropa. L Libneniyye tṫaycaru xa wijj l arḋ. Kill weeḣid ṡaar bi maḣall w bi dine. Marraat keen yruḣ rrijel w tlee`ii marto wil wleed baxdayn. Bi hal wa`it keeno yib`o max ahla aw ahlo. Marraat l xayle keen yṡirla truḣ killa sawa. Fi nees keen xinda jinsiyyeet ajnabiyye, fi nees ṡaarit ddabir viaz cu ma keen, w fi nees bas rikbet l babur aw ṫṫiyyara w lammin yuṡalo xa maḣall yiṫilbo l lujuu`. Fi xizzeebe biḣibbo l muġamareet w ṫollaab badda tkammil xilma. Kill inseen baddo ydabbir ḣeelo. Ta y`ammno ḣeelon fi nees beexo arḋon, aw bayton, aw jiz` min amleekon. Marraat keeno yḱallo amleekon wi ywakklo ḣada fiya. W fii lli bi`yo bil balad.
Mansur bi`e max xaylto. Ṡaḣiiḣ ḱisir kam ci“a bi ddamaar, wi ssir`a, wi nnhiib, aw bil muṡaadara. Fi leej`iin Libneniyye bi alb baladon thaccalo min hawn w ṡaaro hawniik. W fi leej`iin Flasṫiniyye sta`balon Libnen w fakkaro l balad baladon. Fa lli ṡaar xal Libneniyye ṡaar bi nniheeye xlayon, wi lli ṡaar xlayon ṡaar xal Libneniyye, bi lli mniiḣ w lli wḣiic. Yille hinne abaḋayeet xa ahl l manta`a lli btista`bilon byeeḱdo lli baddon bi ssleeḣ. Ya imma nnees bi ḱalluwon bi kill basaaṫa yi`ixdo bi l maṫaariḣ lli faaḋye. Yimkin hal maḣalleet l faaḋye keenit byut nees mitlon, w ṡaaro mitlon, w bijuz lammin hinne ijo min hawn la hawniik, ha nnees raaḣo min zeet l hawniik la zeet l hawn. L balad ṡaar fi farz sikkeene. Mansur bi`yit amleeko w keen yneewil ccabeeb hilli ḱalluu ykammil ccira wil bayx, wi ylimm ajareet min lli maa keeno abaḋayeet. Mansur mi`ric: byekol w biṫaxme, w bi hal iyyeem fi ṡaf`aat ktiire. Fa ḱalluu.
Mansur ṡaar xindo wleed. Ṡaḣiiḣ biḣibbon mitl killil ahl. Huwwe minhimik kiif baddo yeḱidon wi yjiibon. L waḋix bi ḋallo minfijir, marra hawn w marra hawniik, w marraat wayn ma keen. Kill ahl biḱeefo xa wleedon w baddon yiḣmuwon min l ḣarb w yxaycuwon bi ameen. Ḣasab l waḋx, l xayle btiṫlax xal jabal aw btinzal xa Bayrut. Bteeḱod calee hawn xal xeele aw hawniik xa caṫṫ l baḣir. Micc hayyne xal ahl w micc hayyne xal wleed. L ahl bifakkro xam byaxmlo weejbeeton, w add ma macġuliin marraat btimro` iyyeem ma byiḣko max wleedon lli maxon. Binee`co li kbaar bayn baxḋon aw iddem wleedon min duun ma li wleed yiṫlaxlon dawr aw kilme ḣilwe, aw cwayyit ṡabir, aw cariḣ byifhamuu, aw iḣtiraam la ṫufuuliton, aw cabeebon aw maceexiron aw maceekilon. Inta skoot, inte fuute xal uuḋa, into ma badde ismax nafaskon, iza ma btismax l kilme btaxrif cu biṡiir fiik, xibaaraat add ma baddak hayda iza ma falat l kaleem w marraat li mla“. Alla yseemiḣ l ahl lli nisyo wleedon wil wleed lli nisyo ahlon. Mansur ximil weejbeeto ḣasab ma byifhama: ḱalleehon ṫaybiin w baxaton xa mdeeris mniiḣa. Li wleed mitl kill wleed byistanzro ṫabxan kill lli ammano Mansur, wa la cakk. Leekin fi icya ma btincara w ma ila taman. Layk ma aḣleehon, Maryam w Yasux, w Mar Yusif. Keeno fu`ara w mxaṫariin, bas albon kbiir w milyeen.
Fi fatra ṡaar fiya hidne. Mansur tarak l balad w xaylto, w raaḣ ta yibrom ddine la waḣdo. Kill ḣayeeto keen xam byiḣlam yruḣ xa Montreal w Toronto, Ottawa w Las Vegas, Los Angeles w San Diego, Miami w New York, Rio de Jenero w Sao Paulo, Nice w Monte Carlo, Paris w Casa Blanca, Washington wil Bayt l Abyaḋ, w kameen Sydney. Vegas, w Las Vegas, yeeh, cu hal ism rrinneen. Yimkin li anna mdiinit maṡaare aw li anno l maṡaare btictre fiya kill cii. L waaḣad byinbisiṫ w byitsalla, bass lammin byilfoz isma! Mansur xeeyiz yġayyir jaww w ynaffis cwayy. Fi nees bi Libnen keenit truḣ xa Casino Libnen. Ad ma ykun, Libnen zġiir. Baxdayn Mansur ṡaar xindo maxeerif bi Ameerka, Ostraalia w Oropa, wi ‘raaybo fi minnon wayn ma keen. Bi rrajxa mayyal xa Oropa, w nizil bi « Les Champs-Elysées » bi otel Ssaint-Georges mitl xa iyyeem Bayrut. Ḣawwal xa Roma w xa Atina, w nizil bi Obros. Mansur rijix mabsuṫ maxxo hadeeya lal xayle wil aṡḣaab w iṡaṡ muġaamareet ktiir, min hilli byinḣako bayn l xaalam wi lli ma byinḣako. “Cu ya Mansur, ya malak?” keen fi nees t`ul. “Aḣla micwaar, leezim inta truḣ taxmlo” keen yridd. Mitl aġlab nnees lli irfit l ḣarb w rutiin l xinf wil fażaxa, Mansur keen xeeyiz yfassiḣ wa laww cwayy xan ḣeelo.
Li tmenineet ijit w maxa l kaweeris min ṫṫabiixa, wil jiiraan, wil iqtiṡaad. Ttalj mitl l jayc zaḣaf xa Libnen min Siberia. Lamma nnees ṡaaret twa`iffa l ḣaweejiz bil jabal w xa Ḋahr l Baydar, ktaar lli xil`o bi ttalj w meeto min l barid aw maṫmuriin. L xawaaṡif mitl l iḣtileleet wil ijtiyeḣeet, ka annon killon mit`emriin xa ha ccaxb lli zġiir. Suriyya feetit bi ssita w sabxiin (1976) w rawwa`it bi wa`ta l balad cwayy max uwweet rradix l xarabiyye. Isra`iil jteeḣit li Jnub bi ttmeene w sabxiin (1978) w kameen bi ttnayna wi tmeniin (1982) bas xa afżax. Wiṡlit xa Bayrut, w ijit l uwweet dduwaliyye w nsaḣabit l uwweet Ssuriyye wil Flasṫiniyye. Tibxit l insiḣeb l Isra`iile majeezir l jabal baxd majeezir Ṡabra w Catiila. Bayrut rijxit nca“it bil arbxa wi tmeniin (1984), bi Cbaaṫ, baxd ma fallo l`Amarkeen, wil Fransawiyye, wi Ṫṫilyeen. Ṡaarit car`iyye w ġarbiyye xan jdiid mitl xa iyyeem ma keeno li Flisṫiniyye deyriin Bayrut bi awwal l ḣarb bil ḱamsa w sabxiin (1975). Baxdayn ṡaarit ḣarb l muḱayyameet bil ġarbiyye ka anna ṡada ssabxineet, w mitl l ḣarb lli keenit bi ccar`iyye max li Flisṫiniyye. Eeḱir ttmenineet ijit ḣarb ttiḣriir w sa`aṫ ḣayṫ Berliin sint ttisxa wi tmeniin (1989). L xaalam xam tifraḣ bi su`uuṫ ccuyuxiyye w xam btibtihij bil ḣirriyye. Bas Libnen nizil xlay jidaar l ḣadiid baxd awwal ḣarb bil Ḱaliij lli ballacit sint ttisxiin (1990) . Tteriiḱ ma byinkatab bi kam ṡatir. Leekin kiif mumkin ninsa dafn l ḣirriyye bi Libnen lammin l balad ṡaar abir byiḣirso xaskar l iḣtileel? Ddepression jteḣit l balad w bi`yit. Farrit l xubudiyye min Varsovia lli eemit min anqaḋa, w lil asaf rikbit Libnen.
Xada dii`it l ḣarb mitl ma bi ssabxineet, bi ttmenineet tfe`amit l maceekil w zeedit ddii`a l ijtimexiyye. Nnees ma btiḣke illa bi ddolar wil ximleet l ajnabiyye. L Liira l Libneniyye ṡaarit min duun iime. Hille keen xindo maxeec baṫṫal yi`dir yṫaxme wleedo. Fi nees fa`adit sarweeta li anno ma laḣḣa`o yḣawlo miṡriyyaton. Fi nees ṡaaro yilxabo bil maṡaare w xam biraahno iza hal ximle raḣ tziid aw tiḱsaar min iimita. Fi minnon ximlo ṡaf`aat w minnon ṡaaret ṡṡaf`aat xa dahron. Nees baṫṫal fiya tista`jir, nees baṫṫal fiya tidros, nees baṫṫal fiya teekol, nees ma ba`a fiya titjawwaz. Marraat l axmeel sakkarit. Ttixtiir wil juux ḱallo baxḋ nnees yaxmlo lli ma byinxamal. Fi nees feetit bil aḣzeeb bass ta teekol aw ti`dir tfawwit mariiḋ xal mistacfa. Waynik ya baḣbuḣa? Ya Finii`ya w ya Saint Georges? Bi rroġm min ha ttixtiir, fi xaalam mṡayyfe wi mcattiyye bi ccaleheet, minnon ma byiḣko illa bi sski, ci notiik w ci xa ttalj, minnon bisu`o aḣla siyyaraat, w xaalam bteekol aḣla ma`kuleet, btilbos aḣla tyeeb, btiḣke liġġeet, tnayn, tleete w arbxa bil jimle l weeḣde. Kiif? Ya ḣaleel, ya ḣaraam! L waaḋiḣ inno l balad ṡaar xam byif`od ṫṫaba`a l wusṫa w kill inseen ṡaar ya imma ġane, ya imma fa`iir. Mitl l ḣarb: ma ba`a fi ḣall wasaṫ.
Lamma rjxit lta`ayt bi kam ṡadii` bil mahjar w ṡirna niḣke xan fleen wi flayteen mitl iyyeem zameen, cii manna niḋḣak cii manna nibke, cii mabsuṫiin bi baxḋna cii mawjuxiin min waḋixna, sa`alton “Kifo Mansur?”. Ḣada jeewabne “Ḋixaano”. Ṡirt is`al ta axrif aktar, li anno hal kilme waraaha ḱabar mic mliiḣ w caġlitle beele. “Balee hal ḣadiis halla`, please, mniḣke baxdayn”. Hayk tsakkar l mawḋux bass la budd ma yirjax yinfitaḣ.
Ġayr nhar, niḣna w eexdiin xa mnicrab ahwe, rijxit wi nfataḣit ssiire.
“-Mansur xiṫiik ximro.
-Cu ṡaar?
-Raaḣ. Ntaḣar.
-Ḣaraam. Alla yirḣamo wi yseexid xaylto.”
Baxd kam laḣżit ṡamit, sa`alt: “Kiif ntaḣar w layc?”.
« -Minnon eelu keen fi wiḣde biḣibba.
-Ma huwwe mjawwaz ?
-E, bas hayde lli ma tjawwaza.
-Max`ul ?
-Kill cii biṡiir.
-Ġayron eelu innu ḱisir arḋ. Beex ca`fit arḋ keen weerita bi zzameneet, ta ymacce axmeelo, xala amal innu yirjax yictriiha baxdayn lamma biṡiir maxxo maṡaare. Lamma rijix baddo yictiriha xan jdiid, ṡaḣib l arḋ ma keen yirjax ybiixo yeeha. Ma keen fi ṫarii`a yi`naxo wi yġayyirlo ra`yo.
-Mansur zalame cibxeen, amleeko w miṡriyyeeto faw`o w taḣto !
-Bas l arḋ ma btittaman.
-Ġayron, byefhamu ktiir mniiḣ bil axmeel, eelu innu traddad yfut cirke bi xa`d keen xawwamo faw` rriiḣ. Lamma ntabah, keen t`aḱḱar w raḣit xlee. Maa aḱad l xa`id w t`assar ktiir.
-Kill xomro byeeḱod wi byaxmil mceriix. Max`ul macrux waaḣad ma aḱado y`aṡṡirlo xomro?
-L meel w rrobḣ biġirro.
-Zzalme ma ḱisir cii min amleko, la maṡaare, la byut, la cirkeet, la farc, la ḣsebeet bil bank, la ashum aw madḱul. Max`ul xtabar innu ḱisir kill cii bi ha ddine. Leec?
-Iza inseen ḱisir ḣabibto aw arḋo, ma byii`as roġm kill amleeko w ġinee? Iza inseen keen ṫammiix, ma biḣiss innu ficil lammin biḋayyix forṡa mfakkira forṡit xumro? Zzalame keen ṫammiix mitl ma l kill byaxrfo w yimken ḱisir kameen ḣabibto w arḋo. Hammo mic bas yimlok leekin yiġtinim l foraṡ . Lamma btiṫallax xa cu xindak w cu ḣaṡṡalt, maa btinbihir fion. Leekin bit`iis cu keen baxd fiik tṫallix faw`on.
-Ṡoxib xlayye inne ṡaddi`. »
Bixti`id baxd ttiḣliil inno lli ṡaar bi Mansur mitl lli ṡaar bi nnees bil xicrineet wi ttletineet bi Ameerka. Xala asar Ddepression sint 1929, fa`ado amweel, w acġeel, w amleek, w maraakiz ijtimexiyye. Yimken marto wi wleedo keeno xam byiḋġaṫo xlay mic li anno maa biḣibbu bas li anno byistanzro ktiir min l bay, rab l bayt. Yimkin ma heenit xlay min markaz jeeh yinzal waaṫe. Yimkin fakkar inno bijuz yirjax min jdiid fa`iir mitl iyyeem ṫufuulto. Hal ṫilix min kebus bi awwal ḣayeeto wi xta`ad inno ḱallaṡ wleedo minno, bas ḣass hal kebus rejixlo w leeḣ`o, w raḣ yirkabo w yirkab xaylto? Hal ya tura fattac xan baraa`to, xan ḣobbo l barii` w maa lee`ee? Hal tzakkar jdudo w arḋ jdudo bi balad nisiihon, ma ba`a fii yuṡallon min ttihjiir? Hal fattac xan aṡḣaabo w ma le`eehon? Tarakuu? Xa Immo? Fa`ad imeeno? Alla byaxrif, Huwwe rra`uf wi rraḣiim.
Iza ntazax l miliḣ bi cu min malliḣ.
Ḣaraam Mansur!
Bixtirif.