PRIDE OF A HOMELAND
(Mohamed Rahhal)
The pride of a homeland adds to your dignity and honour
Its history is written by the free and noble
Its flag flies high, fluttering in the sky
and its children ignite glory wherever they go
My love for it is embedded in my being
It is grand with its past, rich in its achievements
Its greatness dates back to earlier times
from ancestors who followed the path of elevation
Each generation tells the next:
Knowledge is light, and truth is the guide
Let us hold the torch high and pass it on
for with it, we chart the path forward
Time may shake us, and injustice may try to break us
but we remain standing, like mountains
No matter how far I go
I will never feel humiliation as long as I belong to it
I am a free poet, stirred by love for the homeland
Falsehood may rise, but I face it with truth
Even if injustice tries to extinguish the light
I carry it within me like a glowing flame
If they long for the homeland, let them come forward
I am a well-known mountain, no storm can sweep me away
Spring blooms in me with pride
for I have drunk its love since my childhood
I strive with sincerity and effort
to build its glory on solid foundations
I walk with dignity in its name
raising the banner of freedom and love
We build it together, reaching the summit of pride
Though the road is long, I will not grow tired
I have been passionate with its love
and I shall pass on its story even after death
The pride of a homeland adds to your dignity and honor
Its history is written by the free and noble
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Mohamed Rahhal’s Pride of a Homeland is a powerful tribute to the enduring spirit and dignity of one’s country. Through vivid imagery and emotional expression, the poem celebrates the deep connection between a people and their land originated in history, freedom, and sacrifice. It speaks to the unbreakable bond that generations share as they hold the torch of knowledge, truth, and resilience. The poem reminds us that no matter the hardships or injustices faced, the pride in one’s homeland stands firm like a mountain, inspiring steadfastness and hope. Rahhal’s words evoke a sense of responsibility and honour in preserving and building the legacy of the homeland, making this poem both a personal and collective anthem of love and loyalty.
BEAT THE DRUMS
(Mohammed Rahhal)
Beat the drums of war has our honour disappeared
The pride of our people lost in broad daylight
Palestine chose to stand and burn
While we stand on stages and speak of tomorrow
Who will give that boy his dignity back
Bombs try to feed his hunger but death stays silent
All we do is bow our heads
Even the League of Nations cries for a past it can’t find
His mother holds pain and broken dreams
Is she mourning the war or the son she buried
If they offer her exile and call it peace
Will it heal a heart already burned and torn
So many massacres too, many to count
So many buried, do any of them rise again?
What secret hides inside this endless war
Is it my fault that I live and carry its wound?
Fear sleeps deep inside our chests
And Arab honor lies dead like a daughter buried alive
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Beat the Drums by Mohammed Rahhal is a haunting and touching reflection on the ongoing suffering and loss experienced in the face of war. The poem describes the deep wounds inflicted not only on individuals but on an entire people, highlighting the tension between resilience and despair. Rahhal’s verses confront the harsh realities of conflict, the shattered dignity, the silent deaths, and the unrelenting grief of mothers who have lost their children. Yet beneath the pain, there is a call to remember and face the truths often ignored, reminding readers of the heavy cost of war on honour and humanity. This poem is both a lament and a powerful testimony to endurance amid tragedy.
THE DARK GAZE’S PAIN
(Mohammed Rahhal)
The dark gaze disappeared without reason
I wait for answers, trying to understand why
Why do they speak badly behind my back?
Their absence makes me start to doubt
Why is my beloved suffering?
You add blame and leave me in pain
I came knocking gently at your door
Hoping for good but only finding loss
I saw betrayal and was disappointed
Where are the friends? They vanished like a mirage
By your side, in hard times and absence
I wore the cloak but the door stayed closed
You walk with heavy steps
Controlling strong men and elders
I ask the leaders for help
Only the generous give and bring rewards
My heart is broken, tired of this harsh world
In the end, only dust remains, but good deeds are remembered
I live hurt, my heart full of pain
Coming and going, no good from an ungrateful lover
A deceiver and denier
Harsh looks torment me
Faded lips I love when they smile
The beauty of girls shines steady and strong
She spoke words without reason, my eyes filled with longing
I saw the glances and blossoming smiles
A breeze came and calmed my deepest feelings
My mind scattered when she left
I was confused as usual
Why did she become cold? Bring me answers
I write verses, sewing her name in my heart
A sleepless lover, silent and longing
Tears fell because I missed her, my eyes overflowed
Burning and hurting myself
The fire she started still burns
Your love comes from his heart and lasts for years
Your leaving wiped everything away
But brought more pain
Think about your love story, full of desires
The lovers made me crazy, I saw many faults
I regretted and cried
Regret doesn’t help after what happened
The time I began has passed, stories told
That story remains a page in my forgotten life
I stopped hearing news from her
The harsh gaze tormented me with dark eyes
Faded lips
I love when she smiles softly
She is worn out by hardship, far from good times
She fills my mind
She left without reason, I still see visions of her
I still hope she will return despite her long absence
Why does she ask?
She leaves me helpless, living in confusion
I wished for peace, but she gave bad signs
I loved her madness
I liked her even without beauty, through many years
Women and men say uncle and uncle
Patience brings reward
But how long must I wait?
Morale fell, my joy disappeared
Things changed
I wished to see her but she vanished like the crescent moon
Tears flowed like rivers
Living in hardship
Sorrow after sorrow, this is life’s way
Greedy for money, causing troubles and sickness
Who cheated?
But if you win, you will be held responsible
Between the letters M and D, this is what people say
Mohammed Rahhal
Son of Abdel Malik, grandson of men
The news is spreading
The harsh gaze tormented me with dark eyes
Faded lips
I love when she smiles softly
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This is a deeply emotional and evocative poem by Mohammed Rahhal, filled with longing, pain, and reflection on lost love and betrayal. The imagery of the dark gaze, faded lips, and scattered thoughts paints a vivid picture of heartache and confusion. The poem moves through feelings of hope, regret, sorrow, and endurance, exploring the complexities of human relationships and the scars they leave behind. It catches the bittersweet nature of love, both its beauty and its suffering, and the struggle to find peace amidst loss. Rahhal’s voice is intimate and raw, making the poem relatable to anyone who has experienced deep emotional turmoil.
