Book Signing by Father Yousif Jazrawy 2016
I knew him... the cross upon his chest
And his noble letter under his command
So, I said, "O my feelings, sing!"
For his melody is measured like his poetry
And his line is as if it were our path
And we walk in the lines of his line
Iraq groaned from his absence
And I thought it afflicted like its bird
Boats assassinate half its people
And the thief slumbers in the corners of his palace
Baghdad, a tear flows in the eyes
But it is a volcano at his mention
He came to life as a priest and a scholar
And a writer... blessed in his journey
If he spoke, the hands of time would stop
And if he wept... his tears flowed like a stream
O Mar Melis, you preserved him
So that He ascends
The glory of the highest heavens is adorned
With his thought
Blessed are you, blessed, a just leader
The meadow of flowers rejoices in his fragrance
O Mar Melis, you did not ask about sovereignty
You became a symbol, our pride is from his pride
You are the great one, shining high
Jesus has given you the light of his dawn
O Joseph... our stars revolve in his sky,
And our well is like his well
And we do not betray him as brothers
For his name shines despite his oppression
His prayer is like his heart, like his love
Like a smile that appears above his lips
It is said that doctrines have become heretical
How wonderful it would be
If they believed in his heresy
You would think his letters were churches
Their fragrance wafts Like his ink
Even candles cannot dim before him
When Baghdad lined up
The candles of his monastery
I love him with an unyielding love
Like a father, I strengthen his back
No, I do not fear the spiteful chatterer
If he covered beauty
With the blackness of his deceit
I fear for him from a reckless pride
That humbled all who fell captive to him
He has the right to revel in his grandeur
So that he may trample
Upon the nose of his abandonment.
**
