Skiing in Lebanon

These mountains of ours—pure white summits, and paradises of doves.

The snow season is at its very height today, and perhaps the ladies and the young ladies are being drawn by hidden forces toward these pure white summits, where purity meets purity, and the summit becomes a song, the hillside dreams, and the cold snows warmth and radiance...

And perhaps you know, Madam, that nothing gives the body suppleness and pliancy like sport upon the snows.

And perhaps you know, Madam, that setting brown goggles over your eyes lends you a lovely, bewitching color—besides shielding your two beautiful eyes from the strong heat of the sun...

And do not forget to take, while you play, a few of the candies that raise the body's warmth.

You are bound to fall; so take care not to fall on your face or on your back—you would not then be safe from grievous consequences. It is best to fall sitting...

And remember always that skiing is a dangerous sport, but a delightful and delicious one; so venture upon it with boldness and strength, and make your preparations for it.

And now—be light, merry, brisk, and alert,
and do not give yourself over to laziness and torpor,
but make friends with nature, and embrace her with joy;
do you not see these snows,
all enticement, all enchantment,
calling you to them...
to their pure, immaculate whiteness;
to their beauty, calm amid the storm,
surrendered to the warmth of the sun,
bending tenderly over the naked boughs..
and joy and release... our mountains,
a flutter of velvet wings;
and for the girls, dancing floors and swings.

The beauty of the snows?
What a blessing it is for you,
for you, daughter of my country..
For these mountains of ours
are pure white summits,
and paradises of doves,
and joy and release.. our mountains,
a flutter of velvet wings;
for the girls, dancing floors and swings.
So to the summit—as though you were the wing of a sweet
dove..