Byblos, dream of my night, come glowing with light

Great wonder of history, temple endowed with mystery;

On your brow, I see the Creator’s hand and his art,

Genius here invented the A, B, C giving part

To the founders of learning, to Thales, to Zeno, to Cadmos,

Pythagoras, Sunkunyaton, Mokhos and Philo of Byblos.

Cradle of thought, where gods and goddesses took their first form,

Mirror of Paradise, holy with love and with wisdom here born;

From the foam of your beaches was Astarte engendered,

Whose beauty was such that the heavens all wondered.

Red with the blood of Adonis the river runs down

Rushing between rocks and forests of ancient renown.

High cloisters heard the psalms sung by Rebecca and Aquilina,

By Sharbel, Hardini, Tacla, Estefan, and with them Marina.

Many your saints who are raised to the altars

The blessed and holy whose faith never falters.

For thousands of years your port has abounded

With oar and sail and the quays have resounded

To loading and discharge of textiles, silver and gold,

Wine in amphora, purple, and incense and riches untold.

The mariners brave spread letters and with them every science,

With knowledge of El the true God wherever they had alliance.

The Alphabet of Byblos around the world was spread

So science and God’s revelation everywhere could be read.

Persian and Roman and Greek, those with the cross from the North,

Those storming in from Asia and those from the South come forth,

Have left behind their ruins and then they have passed away,

Leaving glorious Byblos to bathe in the light of day.

Your head is ever held high, city of splendor and love,

Welcoming all men as brothers in a spirit that comes from above.

Looking back seventy centuries, your children now feel proud

Of many illustrious forebears with learning and genius endowed.

With your hundred pealing belfries that reach up to the skies,

Your voice is clear, O Byblos, and forever it will rise;

Till the frontiers of time are reached it vibrates in the Milky Way.

Your message rings clear in all hearts and every conscience stirs,

And melds into a harmony that every human hears.

Our Lady of the Port, by every name you are known,

Queen of our land and of Heaven, protect our city home,

Byblos outstretched to the universe, a poem of love and hymn,

Land of saints and of Nature whose glory can never grow dim.

Joseph Matar
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Translated from French: K.J.Mortimer