Defeat, My Defeat Poem By Khalil Gibran - Arabic Calligraphy Khalil Gibran Poetry - Yassin Tawfeeq - Tan Variation

Arabic Calligraphy print of an original work, capturing Gibran's Poem, "Defeat, My Defeat". Composed Late June, 2024.

• English Translation:

Defeat, my Defeat, my solitude and my aloofness;
You are dearer to me than a thousand triumphs,
And sweeter to my heart than all world-glory.

Defeat, my Defeat, my self-knowledge and my defiance,
Through you I know that I am yet young and swift of foot
And not to be trapped by withering laurels.
And in you I have found aloneness
And the joy of being shunned and scorned.

Defeat, my Defeat, my shining sword and shield,
In your eyes I have read
That to be enthroned is to be enslaved,
And to be understood is to be leveled down,
And to be grasped is but to reach one’s fullness
And like a ripe fruit to fall and be consumed.

Defeat, my Defeat, my bold companion,
You shall hear my songs and my cries and my silences,
And none but you shall speak to me of the beating of wings,
And urging of seas,
And of mountains that burn in the night,
And you alone shall climb my steep and rocky soul.

Defeat, my Defeat, my deathless courage,
You and I shall laugh together with the storm,
And together we shall dig graves for all that die in us,
And we shall stand in the sun with a will,
And we shall be dangerous.

-Khalil (Kahlil) Gibran

• Arabic:

أيّتها الهزيمة، يا هزيمتي
أنتِ أحبّ إليّ من ألفِ انتصار
وألذّ في قلبي من كلّ أمجاد العالم
أيتها الهزيمة، يا هزيمتي
يا معرفتي بذاتي، ويا جموحي
من خلالكِ أعرفُ أني ما زلتُ شابًا سريعَ الخطى
وأعرفُ ألا تخدعني أوراقُ الغارِ اليابسة
وفيكِ، وجدتُ العزلة
ولذّةَ أن أكون مهجورًا، ومُزدرىً
أيُتها الهزيمة، يا هزيمتي
يا سيفيَ اللامعَ، ويا درعي
في عينيكِ قرأت
أنّ تتويجي يعني استعبادي
وأنّ فهمي يعني تسطيحي
وأن أُستوعبَ يعني أن أصلَ إلى نهايتي
كثمرةٍ ناضجةٍ: تسقطُ وتُستهلك
أيتها الهزيمة، يا هزيمتي
يا رفيقتيَ الجريئة
ستسمعينَ أغنياتي، وصرخاتي، وصمتي
ولا أحد سواكِ سيحدّثني عن خفقات الأجنحةِ
وعن إصرارِ البحار
وعن الجبالِ التي تشتعلُ في الليل
ووحدكِ، ستتسلقينَ روحيَ الشاهقة
أيتها الهزيمة، يا هزيمتي
يا شجاعتي التي لا تموتُ
أنا وأنتِ، سنضحكُ معًا في وجهِ العاصفة
وسنحفرُ قبورًا لكلّ ما يموتُ فينا
وسوف نقفُ تحت الشمسِ بإرادة
وسوفَ نكونُ، معًا، خطرين

-خليل جبران

The print is available in multiple sizes, starting from 11x14".

Each print is signed and shipped directly from the artist. A description card is also included with each print, which has the Arabic/Farsi and English translations, as well as a preview of the selected piece.

The Gold Frame package includes a double matting of Cream and Gold that beautifully compliments the tan background.