Like Lebanon by Farah Chamma
Like Lebanon
Farah ChammaLoving you is like Lebanon—
The sea the mountains the cedars
Religions sects West East Beirut
Syrians Palestinians Haifa-born
Lebanese claimed “Phoenicians”
Lebanese-speaking Egyptians
Happy new-age hippies in Chouwen
Uptight shoppers in Solidere
Balconies overlooking Hamra
Old houses made into tobacco stores
Garbage forgotten in streets
Rain attempting to cleanse the city
The view from Beit Meri
The manakeesh from Um Jean’s
tiny kioskI love you; four million in me
and fourteen more outside.
KEEP READING
SHARED WITH GRATITUDE
This poem appeared in We Call to the Eye & the Night: Love Poems by Farah Chamma, published by Persea Books, 2023. (Available direct from Persea Books • Also on: Amazon • Bookshop)
DESCRIPTION
“This landmark anthology gathers together almost two-hundred vibrant English-language love poems by living writers of Arab descent.
We Call to the Eye and to the Night is an amalgam of eminent poets ―Hayan Charara, Leila Chatti, Nathalie Handal, Fady Joudah, and Naomi Shihab Nye, among them―and those who have just begun to make their mark. These poets are descended from diverse countries and represent a breathtaking intersection of voices, experiences, and perspectives. Divided into whimsical sections (named for lines from poems they include), the anthology features an evocative array of erotic and romantic selections, as well as ones portraying love of family, friends, heritage, and homeland. Exquisitely curated and introduced by acclaimed authors Hala Alyan and Zeina Hashem Beck, We Call to the Eye and to the Night is at once sexy, sensuous, adventurous, and nostalgic―a treasury of love emanating from the Arab world and its diaspora.” (Source)
ABOUT FARAH CHAMMA
Farah Chamma (she/her) is a Palestinian poet and performer. As a performer, Chamma has participated in many events and festivals, including Palestine en Campagne (France), Wilde Möhre (Germany), Bradford Literature Festival (UK), Karama Human Rights Film Festival (Jordan), Faladura (Portugal), Requiem for Justice (Mexico), and Le Guess Who? (Holland). In February 2021, Chamma and Brazilian music producer Liev launched chamæleon, a poetry and electronic music duo. Chamma writes in her
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ENDNOTES
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