Aunty Rahil Baini

To the soul of my beloved aunty Rahil Baini

O my aunty and godmother, we lost

Our motherly cosy fort that was once our shelter.

It's difficult to have mothers like you,

Haughty as a great Cedar tree,

We nurtured and matured in your shade.

Rahil, your name embellished the words,

It's revealed in the Bible,

And we are grateful for all your grace.

When your daughter Mary departed

Your tears dried out, as well as ours

And you faced affliction and your anguish became ours.

For Clark your beloved inspirational son,

You shed many tears and we shared your sorrow

O Aunty, you’re the last grape of the cluster,

The cluster that shattered on our threshing floor

From Boulos to Bacchus with his distinguished moles,

And Georgette with Karma who passed in alienation,

And Peter, your remarkable brother

We waited so long, for his shining laughter.

And Tony Yammouni and his magic melody,

We stayed up for hours listening to his guitar.

And now with your sorrowful death,

The stars have lost their shine

And we became orphans in this world

To my dad and mom, I send my love,

And cheers to my youngest brother Marcel,

Tell them all our stature is curved,

And grieves have caused us to age.

O aunty, you are an optimal aunt, the best of them all,

I envy the tomb that embodied you,

We pleaded for tears from the distant clouds,

And if you ask your people, they’d say:

On your departure we shed the last of our tears.

Tony Yammouni

To the soul of my beloved cousin Antoine George Yammouni

1

Why is there so much pain upon us?

And why are there tears nested in our eyes?

Departed are those who were our elite 

Many loved names have been wiped from this world

Marie departed and Clark her brother as well 

While the voice of Marcel still echoes

And today, we lost Tony the beloved only son

Who once encircled us with happiness

Our woes would have increased and tipped the scale

If it wasn't for the tenderness of God

Surely, we would have all gone mad.

Where are you Carmen to embrace the loved one

Your son, your only endeared son

On his way to meet you, you can tell the mighty God

Bou Elias in our heart you will dwell evermore.

2

Your guitar is silenced and its strings torn apart

And your melodies will awfully miss you

Discourses fell in love with your words

And birds soared to the seventh heaven.

Elias, your only son will embrace his sisters

Whose heads are bowed to the ground

And Lena, the happy loving mother

Is now stricken by an unknown influx of pain

And the tears of overwhelmingly envy 

The burning tears in your sisters' eyes

Today, I swear by your valued life

Your picture will be etched in our heart,

For the rest of our lives and for eternity

Clark Baini

To my beloved cousin Clark George Baini

O grief... O tears... O wailing

Your death is a cross, 

How can I carry it?

Rahil whose laughter was as big as the world

The laughter died 

And the tears became deep red.

Clark, your sister before you 

Hunched your mum’s back

Death was so mean 

To take away her children,

While in life, her sun is reaching the dusk.

Today all of us are shocked 

By your early passing.

 Rosanna! Today I don’t know what happened to me,

Our unique beloved has gone

He whose mind was valued 

More than the world's wealth

He who immortalized me with books - 

The literature has died

Clark, your age cannot be measured by time,

But by an admirable family you raised 

With love and good deeds

I never met anyone like you 

In this whole world

A tender-loving father 

And an exemplary man

Together, we grew up! 

Remember our early childhood?

We shared every laugh, 

Every flaw, 

And every meal.

Mejdlaya your town is shrouded in grief,

Above it, the White Mountain is at half-mast.

Mary, the Virgin attested to your heritage 

And your decency

She grieved for her care-free neighbour

And no matter how far you travel and roam,

To the Virgin you’ll always be a good friend at home

Like a saint, you lived 

And raised a righteous family

Temper their torment a little 

In this difficult time.

It doesn’t matter if the body perishes,

Your good repute will always live on.

Your picture is engraved in my heart

To keep you close to me forever and ever.

**

My beloved brother Marcel

To the soul of my beloved brother Marcel Sarkis Baini (Charbel’s father)
Beloved brother...What an agony!
1
When our heart weeps
Our brains stop, laughter is switched off
We become painfully strayed
Pain renders us speechless.
2
When night after night
We feel the savage knives
Cut through our heart
We call on the Lord
No one answers
The agonizing words
Freeze on our lips.
3
My brother is in a different world
Like an extinguished church candle
It burns deep into my heart
How can I drink this bitter cup?
4
I couldn’t believe you’d do this to us
You were always loving, truthful and generous
Your tenderness was overwhelming
Why then, you caused us all this pain?
5
Why tell me why, the surprise?
You were like the moon waning quietly
And your unduly farewell
Caused your loved ones lots of grieve.
6
And laure, whose madness reached heaven
Eyes burning, eyes erupted like a volcano
A weeping tree inside your home
Her branches are totally broken.
7
Charbel your son, who carries my name
He kneeled and kissed your feet
Thus making even the breeze weep
The burning flame in his heart
His kiss became an eternal seal.
8
And Joseph your son and neighbour
With a bowed head and a curbed back
When he passes by, I see you in him
We share together a neighbourly cry.
9
Natalie and Claire, your two girls
I wish you could see them now
They are two eyes wiping one another
When shouting your name, I fear for them
The shout has inflamed both their hearts.
10
Your brothers could not bear the shock
You were the youngest and they are sore
They implore the Virgin to look upon them
Their spoken words have turned to stones.
11
My dear brother and Charbel’s father
Your departure is a painful cry
To all your relatives and friends
For you they came from near and far
Lebanon grieved and Mejdlaya wept you.
12
A son and a brother-in-law
To beloved Rechdibbine El Koura
Your picture is proudly engraved
And framed in eternal pledges.
Within the heart of one and all.
13
Now, how am I going to pass my time?
And how can I ever forget you/
While you were my world
I pray unceasingly to all the saints
And you passed, I got angry with God.
14
God only knows why all this anger
Your passing is hard for any human
You and I were like identical twins
For God’s sake, keep this picture alive.
15
Tell me how to bid you farewell
You always sweetened my bitterness
I’ll close my eyes watching your smile
And every time I think of you, I shall pray.

My aunt Sayde

Dedicated to the soul of my aunt Sayde Baini

A long life God blessed you with

so that we can all have time to love you,

Our love aged in your heart.

O Sayde, my beloved aunt!

Back home, Bakhos your hero still awaits,

in Lebanon his name is a legend,

and you never left his sight.

Your sons and your daughters

enlighten your humble house,

with purity you have raised them,

protecting all the family’s values

boldness and piety reside within your walls,

our God in heaven attests to my words.

2

Dear aunt, times are treacherous,

Robbing the loved ones of your family

Yolla, before farewelling her children, cried:

“O father, the walls of our home crumbled”

She faded away like a shadow;

we still mourn her passing now,

And Bakhos my uncle the hero

martyred to protect our mighty Cedars.

and Joseph your son-in-law,

stolen from amongst his loved ones

like a dream, no one could figure out how.

And Carlos, your endeared grandchild

with his echoing laughter,

he lived briefly like a rose

and died early in his spring.

Marcel my brother, what an agony!

it filled my heart with burning flames

up there you will be comforted

by loved ones who were once here

and now a tolling memory.

We lived with them in harmony,

you loved us dearly child and man.

Dear aunt, your love was our asset.

with every morning sun.

We pray God to rest your soul.

I cannot say, you have passed away

You are a mother pure at heart

I refuse to accept a mother’s death

but I will certainly say:

you went to heaven for a stroll.

                                                       

My maternal uncles

1

I never knew my uncle Joseph

I might have seen him in my dream,

Swimming in the treacherous waves;

That extinguished the candle of his life,

And swallowed his beaming smile;

Leaving but a prayer booklet and a towel

2

The windows of his house in Barsa,

Have always told me his story,

He died young and a bachelor,

Barsa, his town still awaits;

To celebrate his wedding day,

And remember his radiant smile,

That filled the air with magic;

In his absence silence reigned.

3

My learned uncle Lawrence,

His name in Lebanon is revered,

I was honoured when they said:

You surely take after him.

He excelled in history and poetry,

Exactly like his father George was;

An excellent thinker and linguist,

Lawrence was brought up at his hands.
My uncle, my grandfather and faith,

They form a holy three,

I inherited their mannerism,

Their abode is in Paradise.

I sadly missed my dear uncles,

My life resembles a glass that slipped,

Through the fingers of oblivion;

I walk daily upon its fragments.

My grandfathers

Dedicated to the soul of my maternal grandfather Girgis Abboud Maroun, whom I only knew through his ecclesiastical publications, and to the soul of my paternal grandfather Tansa Youssef Al Khoury Baini, who served the church of Our Lady in Mejdlaya; for his entire life.

1

People unceasingly tell me,

Pour your poetry generously,

To flow freely verse by verse,

For your talent is the legacy,

Of Girgis Abboud, your grandfather;

Whose improvised fluent verses,

Glitter overwhelmingly.

I will lay at your grave,

Some roses and say to you:

You went before I was born,

But you are always on my mind.

Stay with me, my dear grandfather,

2

My grandfather Tansa with his fez,

The chieftain of our town,

His generosity touched everyone,

And he valued his love for us.

He was so brave at heart,

We all inherited his manhood,

His roots which grew in the church;

Rightfully reached seventh heaven.

3

My grandfathers, Girgis and Tansa.

Departed, but they are still in my eyes,

Their remains; the icons of my country,

Are buried under our immortal Cedars.

They both served the Almighty Lord,

Praying was their riches and provision,

O Virgin Mary, abide in their heart.

Boutros the magnificent

Dedicated to soul of my uncle Boutros Youssef Al Khoury Al Baini, the magnificent, who donated towards the publication of my first book “Adolescence” year 1968.

1

O my generous uncle, Boutros,

Your caring spirit protects me.

Ever since I was a little boy,

My grandfather taught me,

To honour and praise your name.

2

You were my grandfather’s brother,

You were my gentle, delightful kin,

And were always like our cedars,

Generously distributing your shade;

And when your relatives were at ease,

They gathered under your branches.

3

During an evening of revelation,

The poetry knocked at my door,

I gathered the chosen poems,

You helped me with an open hand;

When I published my first book.

4

I am grateful, my dear uncle,

And as long as I live,

Your name will be my beacon.

You are a Baini, well revered,

I still cannot bear your departure.

Bakos, the hero

1

They say: The hero is asleep,

But his eyes are half-closed,

His banner is ever-fluttering,

And I wear his name on my lips.

2

O Bakos Baini, my dear uncle,

You are always in my eyes,

I will plant a garden for you,

A weeping willow at the entrance.

3

Courage, was your middle name,

A lesson that we learned, by heart,

When you told your mother:

“Have no fear, I am here”.

4

You were only fifty nine,

When you said your farewell,

Your kind parents Tansy and Chris,

Have bitterly wept your departure.

5

Heroes like you, my dear uncle,

Shed their blood for our cedars,

Your name is our daily song,

And your memory is vivid in our hearts.

6

I missed that distinctive spot,

Which made your cheek unique.

You were like a father to me,

I will never forget your warmth.

**

My maternal aunts

1

My aunty Clara,

Indiscriminate love

Was her motto.

Her smile glittered

Like the stars

And like the candles

In the church

2

The amazing tenderness

Of my aunt Hannah

Has no boundary.

She always presents like a flower,

And with pride, I utter her name

3

My aunt Therese,

An abundant fountain

That flows with warmth

And with compassion.

She is like a book of prayer,

With letters more precious than diamonds

4

I missed my beloved mother,

Who alleviated all my worries,

She knitted me an attire of love.

And with a constant sign of the cross.

She kept me, blessed and protected.

5

They went beyond the pearly gates,

But in my heart, they will always be,

The flowers with an eternal bloom.

I refuse to let my life

Be like an empty glass,

Void of my loved ones.

Yolla

Dedicated to the soul of my cousin Yolla Bakos Baini…July 1983

-1-

For you, I pour my poetry in tears,

Beloved mother of seven kids,

My dear and proud cousin.

Like father, you cherished the cedars,

And the mountains of our motherland.

What happened, what changed you?

Your uncharacteristic departure,

Caused your dear children to grieve,

They call for you to stay by them.

Your beloved Charbel carries your icon,

And desperately follows your shadow,

Your brothers, sisters and your family,

Weep your person with a deep sorrow,

 In Sydney and in Melbourne,

They wove a shawl of sighs,

Which cut like the sharp swords.

This pain broke your mother’s back,

And madness overcame her mind.

2

You, the youngest of your sisters,

Don’t you know what your passing did?

Don’t you know, you still have little ones?

Who are still suckling from your youth?

Don’t you know, your house is near empty?

Your departure extinguished our candles.

The Issas are shedding a flood of tears.

And your town laments at your door.

My dear cousin, tell me what happened?

We, abroad, our hearts are burning,

Why did you orphan the poetry?

When the best belongs in your book.

Sister, why does this have to happen?

My dream was to see you again,

Now, to only kiss the grave, is unfair.

3

Bakos, my dear uncle, interred in glory,

Yolla’s heart has long yearned for you.

When you meet, crown her with lights,

Your death has left her heart crushed.

Introduce her to little Carlos, her nephew,

Tell my father to receive her with hugs,

For, she was the sister I never had,

Her absence is unbearable to all of us.

My grandmother Martha Maroun

Dedicated to the soul of my grandmother Martha Maroun

1

O my grandma I long wanted,

To let you know,

How much I really love you,

In my eyes, you’re a treasure,

Your love flows in my veins.

Even in my expatriation,

You’re always on my mind,

After your sorrowful passing,

We still gather in your name.

To us, you will always be revered,

Like the cedars of Lebanon.

You are my love song,

Your name flourished on my lips,

2

I still remember those days,

And your glowing appearance,

I see you in my dreams,

A saint from the town of Barsa.

Every night I go to sleep,

With you, as my prayer-book.

O grandma, years have lapsed,

And you’re still living in my heart.

Using my eyes as the paint,

A divine painter painted you,

A mural on heaven’s wall.

Battoura

Dedicated to the soul of my beloved uncle Peter Tansi Baini

1

My grandma called him “Battoura”,

The youngest of her family,

As he migrated, she was saddened.

She hid his picture, Close to her heart.

2

Uncle Peter, a perfect gentleman,

Impeccable appearance and stature,

All expatriates attest to this fact,

With open heart and open arms,

He was welcomed everywhere,

His name was the beacon,

On our Lebanon’s ensign.

3

Melbourne was his home,

For numerous years,

Where he begot three gifted boys,

Named Romeo, Joe and Tony.

He could never have believed,

His time would come so soon,

Without saying “Good bye”,

To his beloved homeland.

4

He yearned evermore,

To revisit motherland,

To embellish his own town,

And make his forefathers proud.

Pity! Death has claimed his life,

And our Cedars wept his passing.

5

O dear uncle, I should not weep,

While you’re still by our side,

Living, with your voice constantly heard.

Forgive me, if you see my burning tears,

For we all bitterly morn,

Your early departure.

My aunt Madeleine

Dedicated to the soul of my aunt Madeleine Chaanine

1

I was still a boy at school, 

I always called on aunt Madeleine,

Who lived in Abou Samra, Tripoli,

I prayed for God to protect her,

And her image never left my heart.

2

She always welcomed me saying:

You must be hungry, my dear!

Step inside, eat and drink merrily,

You are my darling nephew,

And I do love you very much,

With tenderness and a big heart,

And a smile which shines like the sun.

3

I migrated and always dreamed

To one day, fulfil my promise,

Delivering the pledges I made,

To burn incense in Richdebbine,

And pray for my dear aunt Madeleine.

The lady who taught me to love,

My love for her is my riches.

4

Today, I will not shed my tears,

You taught me how to be joyful,

And how to always wear a smile,

You were my exemplary aunt.

You have attained your ultimate goal,

Enjoying your loving parents company,

And residing with them in paradise.

Here, we are abroad expatriated,

And we’ll miss you as long as we live.

My aunt Karma

Dedicated to the soul of my aunt Karma Yammouni

1

Aunt Karma, the epitome of generosity,

Her heart is always open to loved ones,

She is the symbol of love and devotion

Those who knew her succumbed to her passion.

Her God-given daughters and only son,

The living asset of this hospitable land,

Today, they kneel before the Almighty God

Imploring Him to rest their mother’s soul,

The mother, who with her own hands,

Raised the bars of her alienation

And on the alter in her own house,

She lit-up candles for all the saints.

Today, our Cedars shed their tears,

To morn Lebanon’s beloved daughter.

2

Karma, my tender-loving aunt,

No grave can ever steal her from us,

Her image is still vivid in our hearts,

Despite her passing, her smile is still here.

Her likes will never pass this way again,

She earned her way and built her home.

When she migrated, I was still a boy,

Our homeland misses her dearly.

3

Why the crying? It will do no good

You were our joy, whenever we talked,

And if Melbourne ever complains,

It’s because, it misses you, aunty!

And Mejdlaya, seems lost and perplexed

Unable to steady and comprehend

The demise of its graceful daughter

Who, with her sorrowful passing

The kingdom of generosity collapsed.

The flower of my life

Dedicated to the soul of my beloved father Sarkis Baini

1915 – 1982

1

O my dear father, I love so

I find it hard to say: good-bye,

To show the world my suffering,

Will certainly be the ultimate blow.

2

The painful sorrow of you departure,

Is flowing on our mother’s cheeks,

And also shows on our brothers’ faces.

Our uncles, aunts and all loved ones

 Locked their doors and came from far

To farewell you and to say: good-bye!

O dear father, flower of my life.

3

Convey my love to my grandmother

And embrace my grandfather for me,

A special hello to your beloved brother,

"Bakhos" the brave, protector of our quarter,

He fed the hungry and gave the thirsty, water.

4

We are grateful to those who came to share,

With us, the bitterness of this imminent cup,

In the town’s church, where you once prayed

The candles are lit with abundant love,

You became the cup and the mass.

5

O dear father, how treacherous is the time!

It deceived me and stole you from me,

Despite your untimely departure,

I still believe in Almighty God,

I only wish, my darling father, 

You stayed longer in our paradise.

6

O father, your departure is not fair

It seems that you’ve forgotten

That our homeland is burnt down,

And that we are here alienated

Please, don’t burn our hearts again.

Our consolation is that we know,

You are pious and you are a saint

God’s lap is your final resting place.

My cousin Joseph Yammouni

The departure of handsome Joseph is unwarranted,

He adorned the years with his good deeds

His passing, like a sword, inflicting wounds,

To the family, that is envied by all

Generous Joseph, with his abundant passion,

And an affection like a river of love

He sadly passed to a world beyond.

In the darkness of his repatriation,

If his beaming smile could ever talk,

It would've told the story of an earthly moon

That lit-up the tallest towers,

Which he has built with prayers and patience,

His wife Christine, my beloved cousin

With a bleeding heart and eyes dimmed with tears

He stood by her side, and he never let her weep

Joseph Yammouni, her husband and soul mate

His soul has dwelled in Jesus’ paradise

O son of Barsa, who’s loved by all

You will always live within our hearts.

My beloved mother, Patronella Baini

The choking agony, oh, my dear mother,
Shredded my body and dried my blood.
Your death filled me with sufferance,
My grievance is overwhelming.
Your absence tormented my heart,
And the smile froze on my lips.
I once left my homeland,
And now, in turn, you left me.
Your embrace was my haven.
Then I was left with a dream,
I dream of your tender hugs.
Your death, oh, my beloved mother,
Is stronger than the thunder claps,
It burnt my entrails and my mind.
I could easily ask you why,
But, it will be to no avail.
Let me be the forgotten page,
That is torn from an Oriental book.
I wake up, eyes dimmed with tears
I sleep. your head leaning on me,
My blood is drying in my veins.
What can I say, what can I tell you,
And you’re the light of my eyes.
Wherever you are or may be,
You will never leave my heart.
You were the inspiration of my poetry,
That shook the corners of the world.
You were the artist, who painted my art,
Your absence ruptured my arteries,
It made me age and made me stray,
During my teasing and crazy expatriation.
Patronella and cedar are two big names,
Patronella, value and esteem knelt at your feet.
And the whole world attested for you.
You were a mother…like no other,
You wore saintliness as your jewel.
Your eyes were the vigilant guardians,
You jealously protected your family,
And guided them to God’s path.
**

My grandmother Christine Hitti Baini

Oh, my beloved grandma,

Pray for us from up above.

I cry with abundant tears,

That can almost fill the seas.

We heard the voice of Jesus,

Calling your name, Christine!

We knew that you’re heaven’s gain,

And that only heaven is the winner.

Lord Jesus who loved you so,

Altered the order of creation,

You became the shining sun,

That cast upon us, the holy rays.

You have shone upon this earth,

The glorious span of your age,

Then you set, forsaking this world,

Before we fully enjoyed your warmth.

Your ashes were a gift to Reshdibbine,

The town of your Madeleine Chaanine

We now call on the people of Mejdlaya,

To regain what is rightfully theirs,

And replant their gardenia at home.

We live abroad, we miss our homes,

For as long as we stay upon this land,

And no matter how much time lapses,

We’ve taken a sacred oath,

To keep you for an eternity,

An icon, deep in our hearts.

**

Our son-in-law Jimmy Goldberg

Oh, our dearly beloved Jim…What can I say?

You know that you reside in our hearts.

That little girl you held in your hands,

You loved her dearly with your eyes.

Her love for you has possessed her heart.

Melanie, my niece, who loves you madly,

Like your mother, she sheds burning tears,

Like your father, her heart is full with sorrow,

And like your sisters, she has a heavy heart.

Why is this painful farewell, to your families?

And still a bridegroom, with gleaming laughter.

Audrey, your daughter, who is barely a month,

Is crying and saying: good bye my dad!

And yet, she is still too young to talk.

All the Bainis and all their families.

Shall not forget you, as long as they live.

You are the gain, to the blissful paradise,

And the winged angels rushed to welcome you.

A word with you, my darling niece,

A little word that comes to mind..

Jimmy gave you dear Audrey, a gift,

As company, for as long as you shall live,

And every time you call her name, will say:

I’m still living here, amongst my families.

**