Poetry: Ashraf AboArafe
IN halls of state, your voice would rise and shine,
With wisdom in your words and thought refined;
You gave to duty dignity and grace,
And left a quiet warmth in every place.
You turned responsibility into art,
And spoke with truth that touched the human heart;
Each word you chose carried a noble aim,
Each gesture spoke of Egypt’s honored name.
From Egypt’s foreign ministry you came,
A torch of light, a bearer of her name;
You cleared the clouds that gathered in the sky,
And kept the nation’s dignity held high.
You carried homeward every Egyptian dream,
Their pride, their hope, their honor held supreme;
And now to Lebanon your footsteps lead,
To plant the seeds of friendship through each deed.
How blessed the Cedars, welcoming your way,
An envoy from the Nile, a friend to stay;
A voice of Egypt, eloquent and wise,
A bridge beneath the Mediterranean skies.
Tamim—your journey bears a noble trust,
A heritage of honor, fair and just;
Khallaf—your heart carries a covenant bright,
Of brotherhood, of friendship, and of light.
You make of culture bridges for the mind,
And through the arts, bring human hearts aligned;
You keep the Arab causes close and clear,
And hold humanity’s values ever dear.
When thunder rolls and storm clouds cross the sky,
You plant the seeds of hope and raise them high;
And where the lightning flashes through the night,
Your words remain a beacon of the light.
For Egypt and Lebanon, two hearts as one,
Their bonds endure beneath the same bright sun;
And through your mission, friendship finds its way,
Growing in strength with every passing day.
O Tamim, bearer of a noble call,
Go forth with grace, with courage standing tall;
Carry the love of Egypt in your hand,
And let it bloom across the Lebanese land.
Let Lebanon’s proud Cedars tell the tale,
Of bonds that rise and never bend or fail;
Let Beirut hear, beneath her ancient sky,
A message where affection will not die.
Be you the bridge where two dear peoples meet,
Where hearts draw close and friendship grows complete;
Stretch forth the hand of brotherhood and grace,
And bring two nations closer in embrace.
We pray the Merciful will guide your way,
And crown your steps with wisdom every day;
May every road you travel lead to peace,
And every noble effort bring increase.
O Messenger of friendship to the Cedars green,
Be the living bridge between the Nile and scene;
Let every seed of kindness that you sow
Bloom into bonds that deepen as they grow.
Extend the hand of brotherhood sincere,
Build paths of hope where distant hearts draw near;
Go forth, Tamim, and let your mission be:
Egypt’s embrace to Lebanon, from sea to sea.
