Poem 079: On The Eve Of Our Lady’s Day (Dormition) Poem by Samer Madbak

Tonight,
Tonight my dearly brothers celebrate…
My village, my North
All hamlets of my North
All beings commemorate
One especial night…
Tonight the earth
The spotless firmament
In adoration vehement
And blessèd mirth
Participate…
A wondrous rite,
A holy sacrament.
Tonight all hearts, all eyes,
All prayers, vows
A million rosaries
Every church and every house
Upon the Virgin calls
“Ave Maria, Queen of skies,
Mercy on our souls…”
Tonight my Valley celebrates
The winsome fair
Everyone is there
My dearly mates
Paying homage
In that tiny village
Joining for the dance
In the cooling air
One circle, one pace
One stance,
One spirit…
Oh I would swear
That I can see it
Sitting here, I retrace…
The wondrous scene
Springs before my sight:
The huddling people race
To the Mass,
And in the churchyard a tambourine
Shakes the solemn night
Every lad and every lass
Step in for the beat
Dabkeh, All night long
An ardent throng
And tireless feet…
Oh how I used
To watch them dancing
How often they tried,
I refused,
I stayed there glancing
Sharing their ecstasy
In silence seeming
When deep inside
A sea, a mammoth tide
Of joy was teeming
I’d sit aside
A little chat, awhile
A smile
A bit of dreaming
And very soon
The night would die.
Happy moments quickly fly
We bid the moon
Farewell, goodbye…
Another night
Forever beaming
In my inward eye
Another swoon
Another memorye!


Adelaide
August 15th 1990