A stranger in the Christmas night

  Poem’s name: A stranger in the Christmas night

(غريب في ليلة الميلاد)

 Poet's name : Muhammad Al-Jabbar

(محمد الجبار)

Date of writing the poem : 1 January 1964

 → listen to the poem - part 1

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ومدت الأجراس أذرعا من الأصداء..

And the bells extended their echoing arms

تشير نحو نقطة.. هناك.. في الخفاء..

They were pointing toward a point.. there.. into the hidden

لكنني سمعت آهة من المسيح..

But I heard the sigh of the Christ 

"المجد للذين في العذاب.. يبسمون.."

Glory to those who are smiling in torment 

"المجد للذين بالرغيف.. يقنعون.."

Glory to those who are satisfied with a piece of bread 

لكنهم لم يسمعوا ما قالت الأجراس..

But they never heard what the bells had said

والمتعبون ينزفون آخر الأنفاس..

And the tired people were bleeding the last breaths

وداست الضوضاء فوق آهة الغريب..

And the noise trampled the sigh of the stranger

ولم يزل مسيحنا يعانق الصليب..

And our Christ is still hugging the cross

في كل مهجة.. حروفها ندوب..

In every heart.. its letters are scars

→  listen to the poem - part 2

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يا ليل أنت موعدي لزائر مجهول 

Oh night, you are my appointment with an unknown visitor

متى أراه مقبلا.. بوجهه الرحيم

Whenever I see him coming with his merciful face

بحثت عنه.. لم أجده في الوجوه..

I searched for him.. I didn’t find him in the faces

ولم أجد من عنده ابتسامة السلام

And I didn’t find anyone with peace smiling

بقيت قرب الذي يبيع في الطريق باقتين..

I stayed near the guy in the street who was selling just two flower bouquets

وتذبل الورود – كالمنى – ولا يبيع

And his flowers withered like wishes and he was not selling

ما أرهب المساء للذي بلا حبيب !

How scary the night is for a man without a lover!

والناس يعرفون دائما.. خطى الغريب

And people always know the stranger’s steps 

ويعبرون فوقه في ضجة الزحام

And they pass by him in the noise of the crowd

فينثني عن ركبهم.. يلتف بالظلام

So he turns away from their parade.. Wrapping himself in darkness 

كما شعرت مرة أحسست بالخجل 

As I once felt shame 

لأنني في موكب المنى.. بلا أمل

Cause I ‘m in the parade of wishes.. without hope

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هربت من مطاردي لحانة زرقاء..

I escaped from my chasers to a blue bar

تماوجت في جوها الظلال.. بالأضواء

In Its atmosphere, the shadows and lights ripple

العطر.. في دخانها كزهر قد احترق

The perfume in its smoke is like flowers that have burned

وأعين تنافق الظلام.. بالألق

And eyes that are betraying the darkness with light

وساعد.. في ساعد.. بالوهم يرتفق 

And an arm with another arm accompanied by delusion

ولم يكن من معذب سوايا

And no one is tortured except me

والكأس فوق راحتي يضمها أسايا 

And the cup in my hand is held by my sadness

اشرب مع السمار حيث أنت من بعيد

drink with the bar visitors, from a distance

وقل لهم : فلتسعدوا بعامنا الجديد

And say to them: let’s enjoy our new year

وفجأة تطلعت.. هناك امرأة 

And suddenly I look outside.. There is a woman

دميمة كأنها رماد مدفأة 

Ugly like fireplace ash

فما الذي قد شدني إلى هذه الدمامة؟

So what has attracted me to this ugliness?

لأنها جميلة في حزنها الكسير؟

Because she is beautiful in her broken sadness?

لكنها لا تقبل العزاء من فقير 

But she doesn’t accept the condolences from a poor man

أنا الدميم يا صديقتي.. فسامحي الألم

I‘m the ugly man, my friend.. so forgive the pain

ومن رماك.. قد رمى الغريب.. للعدم

And whoever neglects you.. neglects the stranger as well to nothingness 

ولم تكن لعودتي للدار من مفر

And there wasn’t escape from returning to home

فرحت عامدا أسير في المطر 

So I walked directly in the rain 

هناك.. في شوارع المدينة الخرساء 

There.. in the streets of the silent city

اشتقت أن أسير في الطريق بالسلاح 

I missed walking along the way with the weapon

لأي عائد من رحلة المساء 

I missed a returnee from yesterday’s journey

وساعة الميدان نبض قلبها رثاء

And the heartbeat of the square clock is pity

لكن من يؤوب خاويا بلا حصاد 

But who comes back empty-handed without harvest? 

ومثلما رقدت في الفراش كل ليلة 

And as I lay in the bed every night

هدأت كالملاح حين عاد بعد رحلته..

I calmed down like a sailor who returns after his journey

فليدفن السكون في حشاه كل همس 

Stillness bury every whisper in its bowels

سيان.. كان غنوة.. أو كان من نحيب

The same whether it‘s a song or crying

فإني مازلت في مدينتي.. الغريب

So I ‘m still in my city… The stranger

: An explanation of this piece from the arabic poems

The poet is expressing his strong feelings in the Christmas night. the poet sympathizes with the poor people. Those who suffer from the bad economic conditions, those people represent the majority in the Arabic states. So his poem brings a national pain to the Arabic reader. He shows this mutual meaning of sorrows in two different ideas, the crucifixion of Jesus and the low life of the poor people.

The influence of the Christian culture is really obvious here in some words: Christ, bells and cross.  Although the poet, Muhammad Al-Jabbar, is a Muslim. Most of the Arabic Christians are living in Egypt (as a minority) where most of the Arabic art is produced. And they have their effect on others.