Beirut
Beirut. Switzerland of the Middle East.
Beirut. The capital of kindness, and hospitality. And simplicity.
Beirut, the one I returned to after my many years of travel.
How I miss you. How I miss the naivety and good nature over flowing from your people. What happened to you? Where did it all go wrong?
I used to rest my head on my pillow every night, thinking of you. The memory of you would bring a smile to my face, and I would slip into a trance, visualizing myself walking your streets, smiling at your good people, shaking their hands, laughing with them. Being with you. Why did you let yourself go?
After all I’ve been through. I’ve traveled halfway across the earth. Seen so many countries, but my heart remained true to you. My one and only. How dare you? How dare you break my heart?!
Can’t you see it is not my fault? I am still your Beirut. I am still that which you remember. Tired, crowded, and nauseous with all the lies and abuse, but I am still in here. Suffocating, trying to get out. to dust off the years that have been so unkind to me. Can you not see? You left me. You called me your love, but you left. How can you expect me not to change? Thousands, if not millions abandon me. I speak… But nobody listens. When will you all stop blaming me for Your short comings?
You love me? You miss me? Fight for me. Don’t let them do this to me…
Is it too late? Can words make a difference? Let us pray they do. Because I miss Beirut…
Amen
Ahmad Al Charif 
Chapeaux bas !!
It is definitely the people’s fault to what Beirut and Lebanon has reached and become.
I believe if that’s what you mean, I fully agree. As Lebanese people either travel away or stay here and do nothing regarding their country.
Think about V for Vendetta where the people control the country, that is what we lack…
A country is nothing without it’s people. What you have wrote pinpoints exactly how I feel. I have went through the same and still am. But is possible to change a population and make them realize that if we put our hands together we can avoid all this! People didn’t only stay here and do nothing, actually most stayed and got rambled in the senseless and destructive commotion.
It is pathetic and sad, as regardless of all I refuse to give up… just yet!
Very nice and very true. People always speak about how bad the country is and how they wish they could leave it, but if you ask them what actions they can do to make the country better they are silent.
Thank you all for the comments.
I do believe change is very difficult, but far from impossible. If people spent as much of their time and energy on a productive initiative, rather than blindly follow the news and get enraged and furious, would be – slowly but surely – moving towards a better country.
problem is, everyone thinks they are too insignificant to make a change, thus the famous Lebanese: “Shu we2fit 3layye?!”