The Story
Is this the palm — sovereign of every garden,
prince of the fields, bride of the estates
Food for the needy, and dessert for the wealthy
a sustenance carried by the traveler and wanderer
Palm of the sands,
you have never been one to withhold,
nor have your kindred of the soil ever known neglect.
A poem by poet Ahmed Shawqi (1868–1932), known as the Prince of Poets and one of the leading voices of modern Arabic poetry. Shawqi was celebrated for transforming elements of nature into deeply human and cultural symbols — expressions of dignity, generosity, and life.
In these verses, the palm tree is portrayed as a pillar of giving and sustenance.
A timeless symbol of generosity and grace, where beauty and usefulness exist as one.
