Nayef Abdul Karim Rabah is a folk poet from the village of Imtan, born in 1929. He is known for his powerful and distinctive vernacular poetry, which expresses national causes, loyalty to one's roots, and popular heritage. He learned under the tutelage of his father, poet Abdul Karim Rabah, with his rural upbringing and origins leaving a profound mark on his poetry. He began writing poetry within the context of national and social issues, steadfast in his dedication to the values of loyalty and patriotism.
The poem “Ya Touyour Al-Baid” (O White Birds) is one of loyalty and a hallmark of authenticity. Poet Rabah composed it in the presence and sight of demoiselle cranes migrating southward. He wrote it in 1989 in memory of his late wife, a woman dearly treasured in his heart. The poet had volunteered in the internal security forces after completing his education and lived in several Syrian governorates before settling in Jaramana during one phase of his life.
The poem “Ya Touyour Al-Baid” conveys his profound love and enduring devotion to his wife, reflecting how she was an inseparable part of his life. It interweaves sentiments of longing and authenticity tied to his roots and to an era when cranes traversed clear skies. Here is the poem:
O white birds above the desert plains, how are my beloved?
O white birds, alight upon the land of my clear open plains
My sun set on the day of my whisper, my comfort vanished and departed
She departed from me, my hopes went astray, and my bearings were lost
Deliver a message from the depths of my soul, as I speak it
Lamenting the remnants of my state, dark with griefs that I fold away
My mind, my thoughts, and my heart—my longing is rooted in her
I converse with my horse about her worries and its messengers
Inscribed with five letters, leaving me humbled by her absence
You can listen to this song and its story in the voice of Aya Mhanna in the attached video.
