Like almost everyone it seems these days, His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has his own website. On it, one learns that His Highness is the UAE’s Vice President, its Prime Minister, and, as of two months ago, the Ruler of of Dubai -- the Emirate at the center of the current ports-deal controversy.
His Highness is also a great admirer of “Nabati poetry,” which his site explains “is also known as ‘the people’s poetry’ and ‘Bedouin poetry’. It is considered the richest form of popular literature, and seen to reflect the reality of everyday life.”
And what is this "reality of everyday life"? Site visitors are treated to a sampling. His Highness, for example, recommends to readers “Stand With Justice,” said to be “narrated by the youth of Palestine”:
Pervaded the darkness and pervaded our aggressor/ In the camp, faces of death without mercy / Death in our land, my brother, is routine /Like honey, though others taste it as colocynth / Worse than death to mortgage my country / To pawn Al Aqsa and Al Quds, to surrender / Worse than death to bequeath my children / Shame and disgrace that history would proclaim / Yes, I resist with my body, I forge my glories / Glory knows not the lover of dirhams / Glory knows naught but a free calling / For martyrdom, with faith enduring / Whoever seeks victory asleep on pillows / Tell him be sure to dream whilst sleeping / Victory through sacrifice, though flow valleys / If blood flows – no victory without blood …
And there is also “Myself, For Al Aqsa, I Sacrifice”:
Scorned the faces of the enemy / Whose blood is cold / Myself, for Al Aqsa, I sacrifice / Where the Prophet prostrated / And I raise with my voice the call / Oh, our people steadfast / No matter how long it takes / Al Aqsa to us is returning / A billion Muslims / Their conscience asleep / A billion Muslims, futile / Their influence waning / A billion counted / We need but one / The martyr fell, and seems / Lawless is the hateful / The child for help cries / And death for him lies waiting / And the world watches / Of their aggression a witness / The blood of childhood sang / The melody of glory everlasting / The sound of stones echoes / With promises of victory / With the aggressor began / And the criminal, the infidel / A word of honour / How often said by Zayed* / ‘Never relinquish the mosque / And for our right we fight’ / The midnight journey of the Prophet of guidance / And his ascension to the heavens / Aggression, though strutting / Its end is certain / Triumphs whoever stands firm / And for his right fights.
The footnote after “Zayed” in the poem explains that this is a reference to His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.
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