January 6, 2021

Yahia Lababidi

February 28, 2021

We live through symbols

and not by bread, alone—

that’s why much can be forgiven,

except the desecration of our Ideal.

Treason defiles our imagination,

a band of thieves storm

a temple of our collective longing,

capital of our intangible heritage.

But they will not steal or break

what they will not see or mend.

The day that line was crossed,

more somnambulists stirred.

Misguided fools shall be forgotten,

but History shall not pardon

that other symbol, a leader, entrusted

to guard what we dream sacred.

Yahia Lababidi, Lebanese-Egyptian-American, is the author of 9 collections of poetry and prose. His new book, Revolutions of the Heart, is preoccupied with transformations: political, cultural and spiritual.