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Nizar Qabbani Poem Translated by Ramzi Salti

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This is a old poem by Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani (1938-1998) that has been translated into English by Ramzi Salti.  Complete poem here.


The world blames me for loving him/her as if I had created love and invented it
As if it was I who drew his/her face upon the petals of roses
The world blames me if I name the person I love, or even mention him
As if I were love itself, or even related to it.
This passion that came from whence I never expected is different from anything I knew before
Different from anything I've read, and anything I’ve ever heard.

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Lecturer @Stanford + Host of Arabology Podcast

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