Words

By Nizar Qabbani

Lyric Poem
He lets me listen, when he moves me, Words are not like other words He takes me, from under my arms He plants me, in a distant cloud And the black rain in my eyes Falls in torrents, torrents He carries me with him, he carries me To an evening of perfumed balconies And I am like a child in his hands Like a feather carried by the wind He carries for me seven moons in his hands and a bundle of songs He gives me sun, he gives me summer and flocks of swallows He tells me that I am his treasure And that I am equal to thousands of stars And that I am treasure, and that I am more beautiful than he has seen of paintings He tells me things that make me dizzy that make me forget the dance and the steps Words...which overturn my history which make me a woman...in seconds He builds castles of fantasies which I live in... for seconds... And I return... I return to my table Nothing with me... Nothing with me... except words

Share & Analyze This Poem

Spread the beauty of poetry or dive deeper into analysis

Analyze This Poem

Discover the literary devices, structure, and deeper meaning

Create Image

Transform this poem into a beautiful shareable image

Copy to Clipboard

Save this poem for personal use or sharing offline

Share the Love of Poetry
More Poems
More Lyric Poems
Daily Poem

Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This evocative poem is infused with a deep sense of longing, passion, and the transformative power of love. The speaker's voice is delicately balanced between infatuation and melancholy, creating a unique tone that is both exhilarating and poignant. A key theme throughout is the dichotomy between the fantastical, elevated experience of love and the mundane reality of everyday life.

The structure of the poem is free verse, which allows the poet to explore the theme in a stream-of-consciousness style, enhancing the emotional depth and personal nature of the narrative. The use of repetition, particularly the phrase "He carries me," underscores the speaker's dependency and their surrender to the sweeping force of their emotions.

The poem is rich with metaphor and imagery, painting a vivid picture of the romanticized lover and the intoxicating world he offers. The imagery of "seven moons in his hands" and the speaker being "equal to thousands of stars" reflects the speaker's feelings of being elevated and cherished. However, this celestial realm of love and adoration is fleeting, as indicated by the repeated use of "seconds," and the speaker is eventually drawn back to the solitary reality of their "table," left with nothing but the words of their lover. This return to reality, underscored by the stark contrast between the romanticized realm and the mundane, captures the transient nature of the speaker's experience and the lasting impact of the words that initiated it.

In conclusion, this poem is a deeply moving exploration of love's ability to transport and transform, and the lasting effect of words, even when the physical presence is absent.

Exploring Lyric Poetry

Lyric poetry is a powerful and intimate form of expression, characterized by its focus on the personal emotions and thoughts of the poet. Often musical in nature, lyric poems resonate with readers through their vivid language and rhythmic flow, capturing moments of intense feeling.

Here are some key characteristics that define lyric poetry:

  • Expressive Language: Lyric poems use rich and evocative language to convey deep emotions, often painting a vivid picture of the poet's inner world.
  • Personal Perspective: Typically written in the first person, these poems offer a window into the poet's personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections.
  • Musicality: Lyric poems often feature a rhythmic structure, with meter and rhyme that give them a song-like quality, enhancing the emotional impact.

From ancient odes to contemporary free verse, lyric poetry remains a beloved and enduring form, celebrated for its ability to articulate the nuances of human emotion in a way that resonates deeply with readers.