Lebanon Wails its Magician of Words

Carved from Lebanon's Cedar trees and forged from its mountainous soil, Said Akl's soul will live for ages for he has so beautifully preserved it on paper.

Eternal and glorious were his words and just as such they will remain. Preserved in the folds of his literary repertoire, his voice will never fall silent.

Leaving behind a legacy of hundreds of poems, Akl passed away Friday at the age of 102.

Said Akl was a Lebanese poet, writer, playwright and language reformer. He was also a staunch defender of Lebanese identity and nationalism, being the author of many pan-Arab anthems. His writings include poetry and prose both in Lebanese dialect and in classical Arabic language.

Akl was born to a Maronite Catholic family in the city of Zahle in 1912. After losing his father at the age of 15, he had to drop out of school and later worked as a teacher and then as a journalist. He then studied theology, literature and Islamic history, becoming a university instructor and subsequently lecturing in a number of Lebanese universities and educational institutes. He set up a prize in his name for outstanding talents.

His poetical works include Rindala, Ajmalou Minki? La (More Beautiful than You? No), Ajrass Al Yasameen (The Jasmine Bells), Kitabou Al Ward (The Book of Roses), Doulza, Qassa'ed min Daftariha (Poems from Her Notebook), Kama Al A'mida (Like Pillars), Nahtoun fi Al Daw' (Carving in Light), Sharar (Sparks)...

He has written three plays in poetic form: The Daughter of Jephthah, The Magdalena and Cadmus.

His published prose includes Loubnan in Haka (If Lebanon were to Speak).

Poet Habib Younes said that Lebanon has been orphaned by the death of Said Akl, noting that the latter's health condition had been "very good" lately as he used to spend his last days reading newspapers and following up on the latest political developments.

In a brief phone interview with MTV website, Younes said that the year 2014 turned out to be ominous, claiming, as it nears its end, the lives of Lebanon's most prominent legends: Sabah, Nawahand and Said Akl.

Poet Suheil Matar deemed the loss of Said Akl as tremendous, noting that the deceased will lie in state at the Notre Dame University (NDU) Monday.

Akl's funeral of will be held Tuesday at 11:30 am at the Saint George Cathedral in Downtown Beirut.

Matar called on the Lebanese government to fulfill its duties towards the famed poet, saying he had found him in good health when visiting him 10 days ago.

"Said Akl is not dead; he shall live on in our memories," he told MTV website.

Few are the words that can describe his art and most of them would seem nonetheless unfit. Proud of his nationality, he conveyed his love for Lebanon in ways that would make a stranger weep.

Tragic is the passing of one of the greatest minds to have ever graced the region and possibly the world, but we shall not stop at this. Said Akl's body might have yielded to his age but his essence and what he stood for will never die.