Rural Poems is one of Charbel Baini's books translated from Arabic into English

Do Not Despair

 

If the clouds pass by one day,

And the sky does not rain,

Do not despair...

The rain visits us when it is beneficial.

I marvelled at a farmer who planted barren land

In the summer season,

And waited for the crops to grow,

When the waiting became too long,

He knelt down and began to pray

And supplicate to the Lord,

While the seeds were still lying dormant under the soil,

Enjoying the warmth,

Were it not for the urgency of Autumn

And its refreshing drizzle! 

Then the farmer muttered joyfully:

"My prayer has been answered!"

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