POEMS IN ARABIC

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 14 October 1941, Page 6

POEMS IN ARABIC

A 8.8. C. COMPETITION The broadcasting stations of Cairo, Jerusalem, Bagdad, Khartoum, Aden and Singapore have all co-operated with the British Broadcasting Corporation in London in arranging a competition. just completed, for poems in the Arabic language, states a 8.8. C. bulletin. The subjects were:— (a) The War in the Air. (b) Shakespeare. (c) Arab Spain. Emil Fakhouri of Safar is the winner of the first prize with Shakespeare as his subject. Emil Fakhouri is a twenty year-old soldier in the TransJordan Frontier Force which he joined two years ago. With his brother, lie is now serving with the Allies in Syria, and he has proved himself a very good soldier. He was born at Nazareth and educated at the Government Secondary School at Safad, and he has been writing Arabic poetry since the age of 15. Hero is a translated extract from Emil Fakhoun’s prize-wining poem:— Immortal Shakespeare, inspired poet of truth and light Son of a nation glorious in the past, glorious to-day, and in the hopodThy Imagination ranges far through illimitable space. Lifting the mind of man into realms of mystery, ever striving towards new marvels Thou art the enchanted song of youth played on love’s guitar. In thy song Romeo’s passion and a soul in which love’s pledges are hidden. In thy song Hamlet’s madness voices the longings of an unhappy lover Sublime Shakespeare, the oceans of song cannot express they greatness The tongue of praise conveys to future ages thy glorious memory In an aureole of immortality thou givest light evermore in the firmament of creation.’