Poem 019, Sonnet 8: The Letter, The Rain, The Memory Poem by Samer Madbak

Friend, dearest friend, I just received your note,
Your tender letter – Mum gave it to me –
The rain was pouring down, awhile I thought
I’d read it on the soaking balcony,
I didn’t want to miss the waterfall
You know how tearful days my torment rally
How misty heavens strangely draw my soul
Close to my village and my glorious valley…
I oped it, read, sweet mem’ries overflew,
I floated back in time, in place, I stepped
Back to that life, Oh I woke up in rue
O’er me, o’er you, the sky still oozed, I wept…
I hid the letter (thus evading pain)
And prayed, besought the Lord to stop the rain!


Beirut
January 12th 1988