I am Beirut
     Look at me
     Don't you remember?
     I am Beirut
     The Jewel of eternity
     A boat of emeralds and rubies
     A lighthouse built in marble
     Don't you remember?

     I am the bride of all cities
     Mother of ships and alphabets
     And home for those
     Who are homeless
     Don't you remember?
     Sole daughter of the East
     Sun-colored daughter
     Of the brown Levant.

     I am Beirut
     You know me
     Don't deny it
     I am springtime of play
     And intellect
     And I am pretty
     Yes, and prettier too
     You travel long distances
     In sunshine and in rain
     To sunbathe in my eyes
     To play with my hair
     To cry on my breasts
     Don't you remember?

     Yesterday when I awoke
     Neither my face
     Nor my name
     Were the same
     Neither my hair
     Nor my breasts
     Were the same
     I saw fear wearing my face
     Under different shapes and colors
     And all I remember
     I was punished
     For no fault of mine
     I was exhausted
     They unrobed me
     And plucked my flower
     And claimed I was guilty
     So they crucified me
     Without trial
     They wanted to make me
     Mistress of the high priest
     And wife to the red terror
     But, God!
     I am Beirut
     Don't you remember?

     I'll always be Beirut
     Despite my pains
     And scars strewn
     In my body and my face
     I'll always love the East
     Despite his caprice
     And I'll always love
     For to love
     Is to be Lebanese.

Translated from the original Arabic
by B. Bennani and George El-Hage.