The dedication of the bust of Nizar Qabbani continued with recitations of some of his poems in both English and the original Arabic.
Shaadi Khoury recited the poem 'A lesson in Drawing' by Nizar Qabbani.
Shaadi Khoury
He then recited stanzas from the poem 'Damascus what are you doing to me?'
Shaadi Khoury
Next, Shaadi Khoury recited the poem 'Letter # 1 of 100 Love Letters' Shaadi Khoury concluded by reciting the short poems 'In the Summer' and 'Every time I Kiss You' by Nizar Qabbani.
Mrs. Lama Salka recited poems in Arabic by Nizar Qabbani and as she spoke her son Omar Salka played the Arab lute, the oud.
Mrs. Lama Salka
Omar Salka playing the oud
More Qabbani poetry recited in Arabic by Mrs. Lama Salka.
The last Qabbani poems recited in Arabic by Mrs. Lama Salka.
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Dr. Ali Alhaddad recited poems by Nizar Qabbani from memory in both an English translation and the original Arabic. The first was Qabbani's 'A Letter to the Reader'
Dr Wael Khoury introduced Dr. Ali Alhaddad
Next Dr. Alhaddad recited a poem in the original Arabic that he called Qabbani's masterpiece.
Dr. Ali Alhaddad
Before his next recitation, Dr. Alhaddad said that both Christians and Muslims invoke Jesus and His suffering in their poetry.
The final poem was recited by Dr. Ali Alhaddad in both an English translation and the original Arabic. He called it "Your love is a green bird."
The formal program at the Syrian Garden statue dedication concluded with Syrian American children singing.
One young man spoke for "We, the children of Syria" as Syrian American children wearing jasmine flower crowns released white balloons to signify peace at the dedication of a statue of the Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani in the Syrian Cultural Garden in Cleveland.
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Qabbani bust dedication in Syrian Garden - Main Page
Recitation of Qabbani poetry in both English and Arabic (this page)
Photo page - posing with the bust of Nizar Qabbani
Bust of Nizar Qabbani in Syrian Cultural Garden
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