One of the Australian Lebanese and Arabic communities’ best –loved poets, Fouad Neeman El-koury, is renowned for his intimate way of visualizing the presence, his beautiful expressions, his visionary intuitions, his use of words and allegories in a delightful manner, his attractive presentation and the way of reading his poems in a passionate way. All these creative talents were sensed and shared in the event.
El-koury launched his new book Nidr El’ lahfeh, meaning “That Moment’s Vow” on Friday 27 June 2014 held at Our Lady of Lebanon Church Hall, Harris Park, Sydney, in the presence of a number of eminent guests: Mr Tony Issa, OAM MP, Member of Legislative Assembly and Member of Liberal Party, Monsignor Marcellino Joseph representing Bishop Antoine Tarabay, Father Antoine Tohme representing the President of the Monastery of Saint Charbel, Father Joseph Solomon head of the Maronite Center for Studies, Father Tony Moses, Tawfiq Queiroz, head of the Maronite League, Wally Wehbe, head of the gathering of the Christian , Michael Duwaihi, former president of the Australian Lebanese Cultural Association, And a number of representatives of parties and movements and heads of organizations, associations and cultural bodies, journalists of various media, writes, poets, artists, a and a crowd of prominent personalities and members of the communities.
The evening began with a video presentation titled “Raceael El-Mahabbah” which was specially organised and made for the event by Mrs Leila El-Koury. The video featured a number of the poet’s fans and friends from Australia and Lebanon who expressed their appreciation towards El-Koury’s amazing poetry.
Claudine Mansour Germanos the MC presented the event and guest speakers included: John Bechara, Sylva Mezher (SBS Arabic Radio), Anis Ghanem (An-Nahar Arabic Newspaper), Sayed Mikhael (National News Agency, Australian Middle East Media), George Mansour the poet, Yves El- Koury (Gibran Khalil Gibran Cultural Heritage). And not to forget the beautiful song of “My Faith Shining” poem, page 114 from the book which was specially composed and sung for the event by the composer and singer Fouad Harraka.
The event was culminated with an inspiring poetry reading by El-koury including his new poems. The event concluded with the cake cutting, cocktail and book signing.
El-Koury’s work is so exquisite that has beauty which springs from within the soul. His poetry reads the poetic Arabic words of the Lebanese dialect. At the same time it is a great reflection of the Australian migrants’ feelings of alienations, suffering and happiness, for he experiences a life of alienation and integration in the Diaspora world at one time. His poems are often full of images that are captured in a few words which give rise to a striking thought. For those new to El-Koury’s work as well as his many fans, “Nidr El’ lahfeh’s” poetry proved to be a real joy.
Marcelle Mansour
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