“The legendary Lebanese singer and greatest living Arab diva” BBC, 2008

A river as wide as it is deep,
befriending fields and night stars, 
trees, and skies.
Outshining poetry and music, 

its elegance blesses snow and cedars. 
It shapes new meaning 
and leads to safer spaces, defiantly.
A moon we can look up to

despite our shortcomings and difficulties.
Like a mirror, she encourages us to admire ourselves.
A lifetime dedication to lift art
above Lebanese mountains. 

The voice of all Arab nations,
despite civil wars,
in spite of continuous losses,
to attain a pure beauty.

Fayrouz stood there, sang, resisted, 
and gave us hope we will bloom.
Her voice, sacred and extraordinary,
is a daybreak, a beginning.

A confirmation that a transformation 
is possible, that hope has hope.
Her voice renders words complete, 
and helps language gain new dimensions.

Her songs let poets, artists, writers, 
and anyone sipping their coffees 
on roofs overlooking other roofs 
affirm life has merits 

and is worth embracing to the fullest.
Through her gifts and treasures, 
we rekindle happiness, realize freedom 
without borders, political failures, and cultural derailments.

We come to Fayrouz for joy and inspiration, 
we long to hear her songs the way we long for home 
after a long absence, and to remember
that Fayrouz stood tall to liberate us all.