For After Prison, There is Only the Glory of a Rising Dawn

Here is a beautiful poem written in 1922 by Najib al Rayess. I've never been able to find a rendition that does it justice, and so I will just put down the poem, and try to translate it in English as best as I can. When I hear that more and more people that I know are getting imprisoned, these are the first words that come to mind:

 يا ظلام السجن

كلمات: نجيب الريس (1922)


يا ظلامَ السّـجنِ خَيِّمْ إنّنا نَهْـوَى الظـلامَا
ليسَ بعدَ السّـجنِ إلا فجـرُ مجـدٍ يتَسَامى

أيّها الحُرّاسُ رِفـقـاً و اسمَعوا مِنّا الكَلاما
مـتّعُـونا بِـهَـواء منعُـهُ كَـانَ حَرَاما

إيـهِ يا دارَ الفخـارِ يا مـقـرَّ المُخلِصينا
قدْ هبطْـناكِ شَـبَاباً لا يهـابـونَ المنونا

و تَـعَاهدنا جَـميعاً يومَ أقسَـمْنا اليَـمِينا
لنْ نخونَ العهدَ يوماً واتخذنا الصدقَ دِيـنَا

يا رنينَ القـيدِ زدني نغمةً تُشـجي فُؤادي
إنَّ في صَـوتِكَ مَعنى للأسـى والاضطهادِ

لـسـتُ والله نَسـيّاً ما تقاسِـيه بِـلادِي 

فاشْـهَدَنْ يا نَجمُ إنّي ذو وفــاءٍ وَ وِدادِ

Oh the darkness of this prison, descend on us for we love the dark;

There is naught after imprisonment but the glory of a rising dawn

Oh guards, be gentle, and listen to our words;

Deny us not this air, for banning it is a sin

Oh land of pride and home of the loyal;

We the youth have arrived, and fear no death

And we had all promised, the day we gave our oaths;

To remain true to our word and took truth for our creed

Oh ringing chains, sing me a song to raise my spirits;

For your voice gives meaning to oppression and hardship

By God I have not forgotten what my country suffers;

So bear witness, oh stars, that I remain faithful and loyal