His life was like a dream, or was he himself the dream? Was he a poet, a philosopher or an artist, or was he a jack of all trades? His words linger in the Egyptians' ears. His poetry is deemed as "a national memory" of "a beautiful dream" that never came true. Here lies the rub! His dream came to an end. It was the dreamer's end too. The dream was late Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser's era, and the dreamer was Salah Jaheen. I wonder at you, I wonder at you Time, Magician who often put a sob into my voice. How can I find a path of my own choice When coming into life was not my choice? This quatrain from his Ruba'yat (Quatrains), translated into English by Nehad Salem and published by Sphinx Books, casts light on a man that was born as a poet, not made as the English proverb says. Moreover, Jaheen (1930-1986) was a cartoonist, scriptwriter, actor and filmmaker. He co-founded Sabah el-Kheir (Good morning) weekly magazine in 1959, and became its editor-in-chief from June 1966 until June 1967. In her introduction, Salem expresses deep admiration of Jaheen. "Jahin's death was a hard personal blow to his friends, and they are many. They all felt as if part of them had died with him, a part that was young, a part that belonged to a rich experience they had all shared... The experience was Egypt and Nasser," she wrote.
Forced on me day, imposed O night It was not by choice I came to light. By someone borne into this life I came, And when I leave some day, 'twill be the same. Masterly, the translator managed to retain the music of Jahin's words, which were A-A-B-A rhymed, by using A-A-B-B rhyme in most of the quatrains. Though all are shaped of the same clay, Born with eyes closed to light of day, How come as the years follow one another They grew to be so good the one, so evil the other? He didn't choose to come to life in the first place. This fact seems to have nagged Jaheen especially after Egypt's defeat in the Six-Day War in 1967. Something was broken or even died inside him. It was shock then the pain that lasted until his death in mid-1980s. But the man had a highly appreciated sense of humour. He was asked once on a radio show about his opinion of womankind. His answer was spontaneous, yet revealing a very witty character. "A woman is a very perverted man!" The nipple glowed, and like a panther sprang erect. My heart jumped with it away was swept. O you who order girls their virtue to save, Can you also teach nature how to behave? Love for dreamers is more like breathing. But Jaheen felt that he was "a god of love". I am the god of love and ecstasy. I aimed at the dream of love the arrow of fantasy. But the dream of love was so delicious, That I shot all the arrows into me! He was a man who expressed his sorrow, joy, love and frailty. But to his bitterness, may be he felt melancholy over what he didn't express! A thousand years old I am, yet so young Alone, yet in my hearft lives a throng Afraid and knowing it's myself I fear Mute but with a heart full for who would hear. In another quatrain, he implies to similar meaning. I saw a newborn babe on his mother's arm, he cried, she soothed and tried to calm. He wailed, she said," Son, do utter some words He who speaks not, will come to harm... He was a lover of life. But all lovers should be cautious when life is their sweet lass! I love to live be it in a jungle deep Naked to wake, and naked go to sleep. To live as beast, bird, man or even ant. Life is so lovely even as a plant! Close your eyes and dance... Keep your step light Your partner is life herself, you are her night. She'll love you as long as you step proud and tall If once you look down at your feet... You'll fall! Jaheen wasn't only a man of song and rhyme. He was more like a philosopher who had his own beliefs about life and death, good and evil. In this quatrain, which may be the masterpiece of the book, Nehad excels retaining the original A-A-B-A rhyme. When man came into being I gasped in awe. When he went back to nothing, I gaped at what I saw. Life goes to dust, and dust becomes alive. Is death, I wonder, or is life the primal law? Nehad made this A-A-B-A rhyme in other places. For English poetry lovers, it is very dear, hence very appreciated. Life is a giant waiting room in which to bide, Where men and asses wait, sitting side by side, Their pains and fears are one, their boredom shared, But no donkey tries to commit suicide. Although it was Fouad Haddad (1927-1985), another heavyweight poet, who laid the foundation of modern colloquial poetry in Egypt. Jaheen took the lead in the second half of the 20th century, Jaheen was quoted as saying: "Haddad is more talented than me, but I'm cleverer". When in the dark and light a distant thread, I stand like stone afraid my arms would spread. Ten roads appear when comes the light of day And I'm more lost, for am I to tread? A philosopher's misery revolves around freedom and choice. In that quatrain, there is an existentialist spirit the mind cannot miss. I often met friends and missed the chance, I often left the cup untouched and did not join the dance, Should I regret the chances I let go, Or rue the ones on which I fixed my glance? This existentialist sentiment could be traced in many other places. Noah is gone, yet land's still out of reach Our ark is still adrift and finds no beach The flood is near, and far is the quiet bay, Reach it we can't while evil rules the day... Jaheen had a very direct and simple way to express himself in words. His words flowed like a river, exposing his own deep bitterness and wonder. Life and death have been his main concern. I was first something, then something else became... Strange are God's ways who Alone can take and give... The trees shool their leaves and whispered my name. "Something must die for something else to live". Yes, he felt pity for mankind and may be for himself too. But his sarcastic nature never withered. Midgets on a worthless planet fit to ban, What do you think you are in the cosmic plan? A grain of sand, you fools! But then again, The entire cosmos is in the mind of man! Pure marble covers mighty mortal clay, While in a nameless hole the homeless lay, How strange, said I as I passed by one day, In both I smell an odour of decay... Like many artists who have faith in the Supreme Being, Jaheen believed God was beauty, wisdom, mercy and love. O you who are seeking a deity to adore Like a drowning man reaching for the shore. God is beauty, wisdom, mercy and love. Be like Him and will reach His door! The next quatrain comes as a last will, footnote not only to his son (Bahaa) but to all mankind. His extrovert character, love for Cairo and deep sorrow are reflected. Son, in this my last will I recommend flowers and moonlight. Also enjoyment of Cairo's lovely enchanted night. If I come to mind, go buy a jasmine chain For a lovely lass. Never visit my grave. This I ordain! Bahaa described his father as an "orchard" in an elegy titled Orchard Green. For his disciples and lovers, he is an everlasting melody of a man that turned into a candle in the wind after the death of his hero – Nasser. Jaheen's famed Ruba'yat has recently appeared in an impressive English version by Nehad Salem. The book gives the reader interested in Egyptian art the opportunity to discover the character of the Egyptian spirit, which lies hidden behind its folk literature and art. Salem was a close friend of Jaheen, a matter that makes her, as noted Egyptian journalist Ahmed Bahaa Eddin remarks in the forward to the book, the ideal person to translate the very special quality of spirit of these Ruba'yet into English. Her translation quintessentially captures the spirit of this timeless work. Ruba'yat By Salah Jaheen Published by Sphinx Books Translated by Nehad Salem 158 pages LE45
