by Shady Shebak

The spirit of Nasr was hovering over Egypt. It had been for some time, but it was getting ready to make its move. It was 1882 when the spirit of Nasr showed itself. Its been 20, 20, 20, 10, and 1 since the last time it made its move.

Liberate Egypt for Egyptians’ sake
I commanded Ahmed Orabi, the Fallah, the peasant
The one who spoke as an Egyptian for the Egyptians
And he responded, with a revolt, short-lived
The Suez, filled with the sweat and blood
To be given to the Egyptians, in due time
British and French, a cycle or bombing
Orabi surrendered, and the defeat was harsh.

The spirit of Nasr knew that this was not the end, but it had planted a seed, to later grow, and the cycle to recycle, and it disappeared for 20, 20, 20, and 10, and in July of 1952.

Liberate Egypt for Egyptians’ sake
Roared a revolution, of Fallahi, Egyptian peasantry origins
Born in Zagazig, in Port Said, and Alex and Cairo
The Pharaoh tombs came open
Egypt is for Egypt, the revolution roared
Nasr became the Free Officers, and became Nasser himself
The Suez, filled with the sweat and blood
To be taken by the Egyptians, now and forever
British and French, and a third, a cycle of bombing
Angst, but the revolution roared
1956, Egypt was Egypt.

The spirit of Nasr, faded and soon was to be forgotten. Defeated in war after war, as society decayed. Our artists, music, and above all, Oum Kalthoum and Abdel Nasser were to become a distant memory. But Nasr was ready to come back, after a hiatus of 20, 20, 20, and 9.

Liberate Egypt for Egyptians’ sake
It was back, after 70 years, and Egypt heeded the call
Bread, freedom, and social justice chants
Tahrir filled, and clashes ensued
No cycle of French or British bombs
In a flash, he resigned, Mubrook and Baraka
Turmoil, conspiracy, inadequate end, but
Nasr planted the seeds, that will be cropped
Maybe in another 20, 20, 20, and 10 or maybe sooner
The Pharaoh tombs will spring open, and Egypt will...

Shady Shebak completed his undergraduate studies at University of Michigan in Dearborn, where he graduated in 2008 with a major psychology and a minor in biology. He went on to medical school at the American University of the Caribbean and received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2013. He trained in general psychiatry at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Michigan State University. He is currently a psychiatrist at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services and is appointed as a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry through Michigan State University. His interests include Arab and Muslim mental health as well as narrative learning theory, film, and literature. He can be contacted at sshebak@outlook.com for any inquiries.

Spirit of Nasr