Walid Abdallah’s translation of his own poem: انا النخلة – Palm Tree (Arabic to English)


I am a palm tree in the vast space

The desert is my home, my place


The Arabs are my folks everywhere

They water me with love and care


I am the symbol of their glory and wealth

I am the source of their dignity and health


In the middle of the desert standing upright 

Witnessing every moment of joy and fight


My roots go down to the deepest earth 

I protect Arabs from famine and dearth


I feed everyone passing by and every astray

Every animal feeds on my leaves and hay


I am the first food Arabs ever know

I stand still whenever storms blow


I have saved people of desert through the ages

Read history books and tour religious pages


I have been the shelter of the different prophets

I have been the wealth of Arabs and their profits 


I am the beauty of desert, I am the palm tree

I am the absolute beauty man's eyes can see.


Walid Abdallah is an Egyptian poet and author. He is a visiting professor of English language and literature in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the USA, his poetry includes “Go Ye Moon”, “The Queen of my Heart”, ” Dream” and “My Heart Oasis”. His books include Shout of SilenceEscape to the Realm of ImaginationThe Egyptian Lane and Man Domination and Woman EmancipationArc and Seam and his co-translations with Andy Fogle of Farouk Goweda’s poetry have previously appeared in Image, RHINO, Reunion: Dallas Review, and Los Angeles Review. These translations won prestigious prizes in the USA like “Cause”, “Egypt’s Grief”, and “Strangers’ Cross”. https://www.facebook.com/walid.abdallah.562rezkw488@strose.edu

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