Taghrid BouMerhi Poetry

 

FREEDOM OF THE SOUL

I was a prisoner behind the fence of fear,

Searching for a window in the wall of night,

But the moon was pale,

And the wind tore through the silent branches.

I cried out:

O sky, open your gate to the light!

A star exploded in my chest,

And the birds returned to their nests.

But the chains tightened around the dream,

Draining my cry,

As if the earth refused to listen

To the echo of footsteps fleeing toward the light.

O freedom, are you a mirage

We chase through dark alleys?

Or are you a sun born

When we shatter the shackles buried in our veins?

I will write your name upon the wall of the wind

And let the echo carry

My voice to the coming dawn.

One day,

I will stand atop the sun

And dance with the light,

Free

As the wind was in a pure time!

© TAGHRID BOU MERHI - LEBANON - BRAZIL

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THE AGE of CHAIND DOES NOT LAST

Stretch your hands toward the horizon,

Like the surge of waves rising against the shore.

Do not fear the darkness,

For stars are born from the womb of night.

Tell the wind to carry your song

And scatter it over the balconies,

For when a branch is broken,

It grows from pain flowers that never die.

I am the child of open skies,

I do not belong to fences

Or closed doors.

Freedom is rooted in the soul,

Not in locked squares.

I will walk on water if the earth narrows,

And I will carry in my wound

A flower of dreams.

If you are imprisoned today,

Tomorrow is your meeting with the light.

Give hope its wings,

And walk beneath the rain.

Freedom is not granted—

It is seized from the jaws of time!

© TAGHRID BOU MERHI - LEBANON - BRAZIL

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A DREAM UNCHAINED

Freedom has no door,

Nor does it love walls.

It recoils from iron

And despises the color of chains on the wrist.

It is a wave racing toward the horizon,

Breaking yet returning stronger.

It is a cloud refusing to trap its rain,

A flower blooming in the palm of the wind.

Do not ask where it dwells,

For it lives in the eyes of birds,

In the breath of children’s laughter,

In the voice of a song that knows

No language of submission.

Every wall,

No matter how high,

Will one day be nothing but a fleeting shadow.

And the river, which embraced the soil for too long,

Will return to the sea at dawn.

If you cannot find it around you,

Search within yourself.

Perhaps you are the bird

Who has yet to discover his wings!

© TAGHRID BOU MERHI - LEBANON - BRAZIL

Short Biography:

TAGHRID BOU MERHI is a distinguished Lebanese-Brazilian Poet, Author, Essayist, Editor, Translator, and Media Professional known for her profound literary contributions across multiple languages. She currently resides in Brazil, where she has built a remarkable career in poetry, translation, and cultural journalism.

With a Master’s degree in Law, Bou Merhi has established herself as a versatile intellectual figure, seamlessly bridging the worlds of literature and academia. She is fluent in five languages in addition to her native Arabic, which has enabled her to translate and publish an impressive body of work. Her translations include 43 books and over 2000 poems, and her writings have been translated into 47 languages.

Bou Merhi has authored 23 books, both in print and digital formats, covering a range of genres, including poetry, short stories, haikus, critical studies, articles, and children’s literature. Her literary influence extends beyond writing, as she serves as the editor of the translation department for 12 Arabic magazines and a Spanish magazine Azahar Poetic and Reverence Cultural poetry. Additionally, she has written introductions for 40 books and contributed to more than 220 National and international books and anthologies.

Her exceptional contributions to world literature have earned her numerous international accolades. She was named among the top 50 women shaping modern literature in Asia and one of the top 20 media professionals in the region from Legacy Crown. Chinese television CCCV ranked her among the top 10 poets globally for her mastery of language and poetry.

Currently, Bou Merhi serves as the head of the Lebanon branch of the International Chamber of Books and Artists and holds key cultural relations roles in five international and regional organizations. She has also been an international judge for the Walt Whitman competition for three consecutive years.

Taghrid Bou Merhi has received numerous international awards, honors, and certificates for her literary and translation work. Some of the most notable include:

•Naji Naaman Award (2023) – Recognizing her excellence in literature.

•Nizar Sartawi’s Translation Award – For her outstanding contributions to translation.

•First Prize in the Nian Zhang Cup (2023) – A prestigious international poetry award.

•Top 50 Women in Modern Literature (Asia) – Honored for her impact on contemporary literature.

•Top 20 Media Professionals in Asia – Recognized for her influence in cultural journalism.

•Top 10 Poets Worldwide by CCCV (China) – Acknowledged for her mastery of language and poetry.

•Judge for the Walt Whitman International Poetry Competition – Serving for three consecutive years.

Additionally, she has received many certificates of appreciation from international cultural organizations and literary institutions for her contributions to poetry, translation, and cultural exchange.