Mnawar Smadah's "Kalimet" ("Words")*
in double translation from Arabic into English (by Omar Besbes)
and from English into Greek (by George Baloglou)
as sung by Sonia M'barek (music by Ahmed Ashoor)
3indama konto sagheeran konto ahbool kalimet When I was a child, I used to crawl with words Konto tiflan al3abol harfa wa alhool kalimet I was a child playing with letters, amusing myself with words Arkodol ahlema arkodol awhama khalfal kalimet Going through dreams, going through fantasies after words Wara'a zamanil haribi a3dool kalimet Running after the evading time, along with words Aaahin wa ta'alamtoo katheeran fi jirahil kalimet I suffered a lot from words'wounds
Wa safahtol 3omra dam3an min 3oyoonil kalimet I streamed life tears from the words' eyes Wa laqad mitoo miraran fi sabeelil kalimet
I died so many times for the sake of words
Salabooha thoma ja'oo wa rathoohal kalimet They crucified them and now they mourn for the words
Aaahin fa sodooro nasi qad kanat qobooral kalimet Actually people's minds are the words' tombs
Yastajeerona biha minha wa aynal kalimet? They fight the words with words, and where are words now?
Qol liman hamhama fi nasi wa khafal kalimet Tell those of us who are jabbering and fearing words
Inama anta shifafon dami'at lil kalimet That they are lips longing for words
Wa takhsha nasa walhaqo raheenol kalimet You fear people but justice can't be done without words
Fa takalam wa ta'alam wa law tamot fil kalimet Speak up and suffer even if you die for the sake of the words
Aaahin shahidon anta 3alayhim wa 3alaykal kalimet You are a witness. Thus speak up Wa yamootoona bila thikra wa tabqal kalimet They die without remembrance but words remain