Poem 064, Sonnet 24: Material Poem by Samer Madbak

Hey placid village on the valley’s shoulder,
What has befallen your sincere colleens?
That humble youth should turn to saucy teens
And suave adolescence wax rude and colder?
Are those the properties of growing older?
The taints of city life, the noisome genes
Of cancerous Beiruts, of Josephenes,
Of sudden money, such things quickly moulder!
The puffèd faces soon will lose their form
The jewelled bosoms and the beaded hairs
Shall fade, so do array yourselves my fairs
But keep your modesty, stay mild and warm.
Be simple-hearted, tarry ingénue
That I may always love and honour you!


Blaouza
July 28th 1989