Poetry: Walid Abdallah

Walid Abdallah

Walid Abdallah is an Egyptian poet and author. He is a visiting professor of English language and literature in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany and the USA, his poetry includes "Go Ye Moon", “The Queen of my Heart”, " Dream" and "My Heart Oasis". His books include Shout of Silence, Escape to the Realm of Imagination, The Egyptian Lane and Man Domination and Woman Emancipation, Arc and Seam and his co-translations with Andy Fogle of Farouk Goweda’s poetry have previously appeared in Image, RHINO, Reunion: Dallas Review, and Los Angeles Review. These translations won prestigious prizes in the USA like "Cause", "Egypt's Grief", and "Strangers' Cross". 

Rezkw488@strose.edu

+201003453073

***

Black

I have always been called black

Before my eyes and behind my back

I always try to hide my sufferings and tears

I have to stand more than anyone bears

I didn’t create myself nor my color

That becomes my weakness and their power

I may be black from the outside

But I have the whitest heart inside

My color has become the curse of my own race

On earth, we no longer have a place

I am cursed in every place I go

I always feel so little and low

I was born only to suffer

My feeling does not matter

For any crime, I am the first to blame

The Nigro did it and call my name

My soul is imprisoned within the dark skin

My own color has become my own sin

I hope people will see the beauty in my heart

And stop excluding me and asking me to depart

My heart breaks a thousand times every day

Nobody cares about me, no attention they pay

I am a caged bird left lonely in a rainy night

With broken wings, with no power to fight

Outcast and cursed that is how I feel

In front of their vanity I must kneel

I hope they will understand we complete each other

We were created to reconstruct the earth together

We have the same soul but different colors

We have charming scent from various flowers

I dream of a world in which we are all the same

And only a human being becomes our name

We should teach our children the power of tolerance

And root out every envy, hatred and intolerance

I love and respect everyone on this earth

I have been taught this since my birth

***

Addiction 

You have become my addiction

Much better than any prediction

My day is never complete without you

You're the dream my heart aspires to draw

My day never starts without seeing your face

Your heart has become my only place

I can't resist the magic in your eyes

My love for you is an ocean that never dries

Your smile relieves all my pains

My heart is thirsty waiting for your rains

Your voice has become my favorite music

My love for you excelled any kind of logic

You have become the only dream I aspire to

My happiness has personified into you

Into your eyes I easily get lost

Your hug has become my only host

Forever is never enough to love my rose

Your love is the only thing I am afraid to lose

Come closer darling, you're my addiction

I need your hug, I need my injection

***

I will be always there 

I will be always there for you

With much love that will always flow

When life is hard and really tough

I will give you support that is enough

Whenever you want to cry

I will be there your sigh

Whenever you want to fly 

I will be always there your sky

Wherever you go on this earth

I will be always there your breath

When you feel lonely and under pressure

I will be always your happiness treasure

Whenever you walk in the night

I will be always there your light

Whenever you are afraid of the vast space

My heart will be always there your place

When you are down and need support

I will be always there your life port

When you are happy and excited

For your happiness I will be delighted

Whenever you want to talk and speak

I will be always your back that won't break

Whenever you close your eyes

I will be always there your warm sighs

Wherever and whenever you go

I will be always there for you

***

Meaning of love

Love happens when a soul falls for a soul

It lives longer and never gets old at all

Love happens when two eyes match

Life renews every time hands touch

Love happens when we find a reason to live for

When somebody's existence becomes your cure

Love happens when life stops on being together

Though bodies decay, souls are in love forever

Love happens when somebody's happiness is your goal

And their smile relieves every pain and every fall

Love happens when you see everything bright

Because your beloved is there before your sight

Love becomes your beloved's name

Your feelings become exactly the same

When your beloved feels pain

You feel the ache more plain

When your beloved becomes your second half

You become ready to sacrifice your life on their behalf

Love happens when life becomes eternal spring

Where birds of every color dance and sing

Love happens with a touch of your beloved's hand

Heartbeats grow and will always expand

Love happens when the two lost souls finally meet

They can overcome everything and easily beat

***

Lion 

I am the lion and this is my land

Everything kneels with one move of my hand

I have all the strength and power

I defeat any opponent in less than an hour

I wander about the whole earth 

I never suffer from any kind of dearth

In front of me, everything kneels

I am the fear any creature feels

Despite my power, sometimes I feel weak

In your arms I don't fear to break

When I am in the sadness state

You are  my only soulmate

I am not afraid to feel weak in your arms

You are always the only heart that never harms

I always run for you to feel secure

In your hug I find true love so pure

Whenever I don't need anyone

You're always there my only sun

In your presence, I never feel lonely

My heart always needs your love truly

In front of my queen, I feel helpless

My love all the words fail to express

My lioness, you are the only army I own

You are the crown on my head and my throne

Only in your arms I find my rest 

I forget I am the king of the forest

***

Sky

I have found my home, my sky

I long to hug you and fly so high

Your touch pushes life into my veins

You remove all my worries and pains

I began to feel alive again

You gave me love that words fail to explain

Looking at you is my absolute pleasure

Your love has become my sole treasure

When we are together, time flies

My love is an ocean that never dries

That ocean is so deep with no shore 

Created to love you more and more

When I see you, I see heaven on earth

Finding you is my new being, my new birth

I dream of hugging you so tight

You're the moon that illuminates my night

Your love is deep-rooted in my heart

Designed to last and never depart

I fell for the magic in your eyes

My love is eternal and never dies

Your smile makes my day 

I chose your love to be my way

My sky has become so close now

I don't know when this happened or how

***

Anubis 

The Nile has been running here for millions of years

Carrying all the good and removing our fears

I built the first great civilization on earth 

I eliminated the world thirst and dearth

I was born a soldier defending my land

Sacrificing my life for a grain of its sand

Anubis and Horus are forever ready 

Protecting Egypt and always steady

I am a pharaoh and here is my fate

Teaching the world how to love not to hate

The Nile is my blood that flows in my veins

Look into my face to see Egypt's mounts and plains

The map of Egypt is carved into the wall of my heart

I taught the world the first writing, music and art

I am the sleepless eye that protects Egypt from any harms

Who dares to get closer and Egypt is between my arms

I command every Egyptian to stand upright

To defend our beloved by day and night

Pharaohs become lions in battlefield 

Right and faith are always our shield

The Nile is life artery in time of thirst

That's why we always put it first

Egypt always seeks for peace and justice 

Always make them her regular practice

Egypt never seeks for war or conflict

Egypt is the land of love you all expect

If war is imposed on Egypt and its land

Anubis is carrying his spear in each hand

Horus is above fluttering his wings

Celebrating the victory he always brings

Egypt can protect herself against devils of hell

Ask the Hyksos, Tatars and all those who once fell

Ahmose, Mina and Hatchepsout are always there

Sending to the world all the love, peace and care

Peace has always been our first call

That's why Egypt will never fall

***

An Elegy to a knight 

My deep condolences to a noble knight

Whose soul ascended heaven at night

Rivers of tears are not enough to shed

For a gentle heart and a face of a kid

You were always a kind-hearted man

Everyone knows you becomes your fan

You always left good memories with everyone

You left life without a setting sun

Your thoughts exist everywhere

Nobody will forget your care

You planted love in every heart you met

That's why your sun will never set

Nobody is going to forget your smiling face

Your memory decorates every place

Everyone prays for you day and night

You took with your every joy and light

Although you are no longer in front of our eyes

You are now the celebration of all the skies

Everyone laments the gentle heart 

Who suddenly decided to depart

Angels really belong to the sky

Whose memories will never dry

Rest in peace our gentle knight 

You are always there before our sight

***

All ways lead to you

All ways lead to you in the end

We can beat separation wind

Even if life keeps us far away

We will get together some day

Our destiny is connected forever

Life is cruel unless we are together

Wherever you go in this universe

You're in every poem and each verse

Although you are not in front of my eyes

My love to you is an ocean that never dries

You are always there in everything I see

Without you in this world, I would never be

Your lovely picture is carved on the moon face

Making the world a much more beautiful place

While wandering around the earth

Your smile is my compass since birth

I am not afraid to wander about or get lost

As long as your heart is my tender host

One day I am coming back to your arms

My salvation from all hardships and harms

***

---

Setu, December 2023