One Hundred Love Letters - Nizar Qabbani

Is he a Syrian poet from Lebanon or a Lebanese poet from Syria? Every Arab reader may find himself in him. Nizar Qabbani's poetry transcends geographical boundaries to become a human language. He carried the burden of poetry, even if he did not preach theories. His poem was his statement, and people's love was its highest seal. This poetry, infused with fragrance, was not swept away by artificiality. He remained in harmony with his spontaneity. He is a jeweler, not a manufacturer, a singer from the depths of the forest and from the silk of the bed, and his rhythm is like a gold scale. Just as Nizar dipped his pen into the heart of feeling, so it is our duty to dip our pens into Nizar's poetry. But alas! Who can match him in his spontaneous flow? The poet of burning longing and stinging anger, the poet of the most fiery moments, our fire falls short of you, for your glow penetrates through time. In you is a fever that bridges absence with the hand that God extended to man in the form of Michelangelo. Ansi Hajj,