Issues

Lebanon

Ode to Lebanon

By George C. Chryssis
Posted on Thursday July 20, 2006

Your cedars are weeping again, O Lebanon,
with tears of blood and sweat,

your mountains are crying aloud, O Lebanon,
with voices of pain and despair.

Land of the Purple Empire,
once proud and mighty
you are again suffering the pain of war,
inflicted not only by strangers
but by your own children, as well…

How many wounds, how much bleeding
can you sustain princess of the East?
How much bending can you take
before you break?

Hold-on, daughter of the sun,
hold-on, nymph of the sea,
destruction and fire cannot end
your cycle of life.

Survive you will,
revival you shall see,
your wounds shall heal

your spirit shall be lifted

and the love of your children —your true children—will prove mightier than the sword!

For your cedars
are deeply rooted in your soul
and will hold it whole,
until the new dawn arrives.

Don’t despair, O Lebanon!
You will stand up again,
proud and stronger than ever before!