On the evening of Thursday, June 12, 2025, Sursock Palace in Achrafieh hosted an elegant poetic gathering to celebrate the launch of “L’Enfer Magique,” the second poetry collection by Mr. Hikmat Abou Zeid, Chairman of the Board of OMT. The event drew a large audience of journalists, cultural figures, and friends of the author.
The evening began with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by a warm welcome from the poet himself, who expressed his gratitude for the shared cultural occasion. He emphasized that poetry, for him, is not merely writing but a way of understanding both the self and the world, stating:
“Words pull me to places I hadn’t planned to go, to memories, faces, and beautiful pain… This collection is a continuation of a journey that started from within myself toward the world.”
Abou Zeid went on to explain the themes of his collection:
“L’Enfer Magique is a continuation of a poetic path I began years ago. It is a journey through the gray areas of the human soul—those spaces overflowing with contradiction, fragility, and beauty at once. It is a collection about collapse, yes, but also about rising again, about the ability to reshape the self through pain, using simple words charged with life, anguish, desire, and love.”
The book, which contains reflections and thoughts drawn from the poet’s own experiences or those inspired by his surroundings, showcases a unique ability to transform the personal into a universally human narrative. In his verses, one finds traces of vulnerability, strength, passion, and a persistent quest to comprehend the incomprehensible—and to embrace what cannot be explained except through poetry.
The evening stood out for its serene and refined atmosphere. Guests mingled throughout the historic palace, sharing impressions of the poems and reflecting on the deep emotional journey presented by Abou Zeid. The event served as a reminder of the enduring power of the written word in a world increasingly driven by speed and forgetfulness.
At the end of the gathering, Hikmat Abou Zeid signed copies of his book for the attendees, who warmly received the collection and its moving, heartfelt pages.
“L’Enfer Magique” stands as a milestone in the poet’s journey—an affirmation of his evolving voice and vision, and an open invitation to explore the self through the lens of poetry.