At last the day has come, things come to end
I have to leave you, though sad
T ‘is always touchy to depart a place
With many happy days that came and went
I still remember when I first came here
A cultural shock rocked me to the deep
So much was lacking, things in disarray
Sand dunes abundant, heat disturbed my sleep
Soon came the boom and miracles took place
Jeddah could be seen changing every day
The whole World, hand in hand, started to build
Jeddah, a city liked in every way
Sands were replaced with gardens in full bloom
Slums were turned into mansions and cute malls
Wide streets were lit with lights, and lined with trees
Plans were set with devotion to reach goals
The Sea shore, shallow, stagnant and hostile
Was turned into a lovely shore to see
The Jeddites spend their evenings by seaside
With families and friends, cheerful and free
Their children fill the shore with shouts of play
Enjoying that gift of childhood in
Parents watch them with pride and with
From 10 PM till next morning at five
This is the way weekends are observed here
Not slow, not rhythmic, but they have their taste
The Jeddites are glad with their way of life
Though for others it looks a lot of
In every morning, Jeddah, I‘ll miss you
With every morning breeze or charming face
With every sunset beams dazzling my eyes
Dancing upon the face of Sea with grace
I’ll miss the taste of Holy Ramadan
No place like here gets one so close to God
The calls for prayer do enchant my soul
Change in a life’s routine would make me glad
Jeddah: I‘ll miss your cosmopolitan life
The mixture of sects, cultures and of
Co-existing in harmony and
Where hatred and disorder have no place
For twenty eight years, Jeddah, you charmed me
You’re not a Paradise, but you’re unique
You have the aura of a virgin maid
But the soul and the mind of a mystique
Farewell, Jeddah, you chained and trapped my heart
How can I depart thee having no heart?
My soul will roam your streets until Dooms Day
My memories and you can’t live apart
Fathi A. Abdallah, MD
September13, 2005