I Can’t Perceive ! ( Lastu Adry )
In memory of the late Lebanese – American Poet and Philosopher Elia Abu Madi 1890 – 1957.
I _ l came ,l don’t know from where or how l came to be l am, or why l came ?l don’t know!
l saw a path in front of me l began to walk,l must keep on walking willingly or unwillingly ,whether l agree or not.
How did l came to be? How did l sighted my way? l can’t perceive the matter ,l don’t know!
II – Am l new or am l old in this existence ?
Am l free or am l a captive in confinement?
Do l lead myself or l am being lead ?
l wish l knew ,but l don’t know,l don’t know!
l must coincide , but why ? l don’t know!
III – Is my journey a rough one? Is it a long one?
Is it a short unpredictable one?
Am l walking or time is doing the walking for me ?
l don’t know,l don’t know!
IV- l saw stars ,but l don’t know why they are irradiate ?
l saw the clouds ,but l don’t know why they are sending out the rain?
l saw the forest with the trees ,but l don’t know why they bear fruit after they bloom?
Are they like me ?they don’t know why they came to be?l don’t know!
V- l remember nothing of my past life,l can’t predict my coming years.
l know l have a self ,but l don’t know what it is?
So when would myself knows itself ,l don’t know!
VI- l see a struggle going on within me .
l see myself as the devil then as an angel.
Bad and good battling inside my mind.
Why they keep on fighting ? Why they can’t get along ?
l don’t know ,l don’t know!
VII- Where are my cries and my laughter ?
Where are my sadness and my joy?
Am l sane or am l insane ?
Did l loss every thing ,but how it happened?
l don’t know l don’t know!
Am l going to be send back after my death?
Old or young,am l going to know myself?
Or am l to be no more? l don’t know ,l don’t know!
May the new year opens the doors to help us to know our mission in this life .There is a reason why we were born in a certain time in a certain place ?Are we going to try to find out ?or are we going to let it be? Happy new year.(your success is my success and my success is your success) e.mail. jmsabbagh86@gmail.com
Wow! This poem really makes you think deeply about life and oneself. Thanks for sharing this poet with us! This is my first time hearing about him.
Thank you Maryam for your kind words.Elia Abu Madi ,Gibran Khalil Gibran ,Michael Naiama,they founded in1927-1929 (Rabitat al Qalam-pen foundation) they published a newspaper.When Gibran died in 1933the whole idea went with wind since then the Arab writers in the USA never established an organization to represent them successfully.jalal
That’s very interesting background information. Thanks for explaining. Hopefully the organization will get restarted again in the future. There are great Arab writers contributing to the world literature today.
I hope so.My pleasure.Jalal
Very deep this poem, Jalal! Simply invite you to reflect aspects of life – past – present – future! Thank you so much for sharing!
Warm wishes! I hope you and your family have a new year, prosperous, peaceful and many personal and professional accomplishments! With respect and friendship Stefania!
Dear Stefania,l value you tremendous encouragement and understanding.You are a lady with fascinating back ground.I wish you the same Stefania and may our friendship last the time.Always jalal
Goood writing.
it’s really a brilliant piece Jalal,.., thank you
Warm wishes,
mei