An accomplished master of the erotic, standing among the best love poets of the world, Qabbani has asserted life and joy in the face of chaos and tragedy, paying fervent homage, sustained over five decades, to woman's grace and loveliness. As such he has been able to bring equilibrium and decorum to poetry in crisis, reviving faith in the possibility of happiness and emotional fulfillment. Yet he is also moved to anger by the forces of evil around him, and the opposing poles of exaltation and rage, of agony and ecstasy, describe his unique experiment. A man of his times and of all times, he is by far the most popular poet in the Arab world.

The book of love -- Testimony of guarantee -- On entering the sea -- Maritime poem -- When I love you -- I am afraid -- Two African breasts -- Painting with words -- The child scribbles -- Notes on the book of defeat -- I conquer the world with words -- Foolishness -- Language -- Cup and rose -- Equation -- The actors -- Opening poem -- Diary of an indifferent woman -- Cashmere down -- You cannot be accounted fair -- Dialogue -- The trial -- Difficulty -- What has God to lose? -- In memory of Taha Husain -- Love under house arrest -- A thousand moons -- Stage act -- Questions to God -- Insane poems -- Love letters -- Twelve roses in Balqi's hair -- Fatima -- What is love? -- Spanish leaves -- Andalusian diary -- You write the poems and I sign them -- The perfume seen, the sound inhaled -- The swallow's coat -- Illusion -- Education -- Sufi revelations -- And I do not protest -- A new theory of the origin of the world -- A man's nature -- He who does not love you remains without a homeland -- I write -- Love compared -- My sweetheart on the New Year -- When I love. Death of love -- Dedication -- Love will remain my master -- I see no one but you -- An Arab cure for love -- Each year that you are my beloved -- You carry time in your suitcase -- Plan for abducting a woman I love -- Beginning history -- A woman walking within me -- Um Al-Mu'taz (elegy for my mother) -- Thus I write the history of women -- I declare: There is no woman like you -- I love you -- A very secret report from Fist country -- An unfinished poem -- To a Swiss friend -- Love does not stop at the red light -- Say I love you -- A lesson in drawing -- Wheatstalk that emerges -- Friends of poetry! -- The interrogation -- An invitation for the fifth of June -- Beirut is your pleasure woman, Beirut is my love -- Beirut, mistress of the world -- Children bearing rocks -- Jerusalem -- Honorary doctorate in the chemistry of stone -- The visa -- Elegy of Nasir -- Posters.