Oasis of Poetry…

While exploring the oasis town of Tozeur in southern Tunisia near the Algerian border, I wandered through its tranquil date-palm groves until I came to an opening with a large face carved into a mountain. The face is that of Tunisian poet Aboul-Qacem Echebbi (d. 1934), who was born in Tozeur. During the 2011 Tunisian demonstrations, his powerful poem Tyrants of the World became a popular chant. Here are some of my favorite lines of his poetry translated from Arabic to English by Mahmoud Abbas Masoud…

Whisper your gentle love to the breeze and clouds
Hum soulful tunes to the stars and moon
Talk to life with the language of your heart
And commune with the captivating beauty of a unique existence

Darkness, too, revealed a hidden charm
Stirring the imagination, inspiring thoughts
A strange mystic harmony engulfed the universe
Skillfully manipulating it as an ingenious magician

Candles of glittering stars were lit all
The sweet perfume of flowers wafted about
A spirit of strange beauty fluttered by
With wings made of moonbeams bright

The sacred song of life rang out
Within a dreaming, charmed temple
Announcing this truth to the whole universe
Aspiration is the fuel and flame of life
The spirit and stamina of victory
Yea, when souls aspire for a worthy and noble existence
The Fates will accordingly respond.