6 of the best contemporary poets in the Middle East
Beautiful, painstaking work takes time, effort and energy. Those that dabble in the craft of writing exhibit those traits in their work and everyday life. Through their extreme devotion to craft, they have produced great works that transcend time and space. There are several contemporary poets rising in the Middle East at the moment who use their voice to preserve their history, ancestry, love or just simply a moment of endearment. The following are a few poets who will be leaving an impact on literature and the world forever.
Mahmoud Darwish:
Mahmoud Darwish, a Palestinian poet, was one of the most prominent and beloved poets of our time. An author of over 30 poetry books, he won numerous prestigious prizes including the Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize in his lifetime. He was also a symbol of freedom and peace for his country and people. Mahmoud Darwish maintained both his reputation as an esteemed poet while also working as an editor in a magazine. He was able to manage both his creative and professional work.
The devotion he depicted in his writings for his roots and nationality remains an inspiration for all of us to hold onto our identities tighter than ever. It goes without saying that his poetry has become songs of revolution for the present; a soft melody of tenderness and warmth for the past. His works were written in Arabic and have been translated into multiple languages including English.
One of his lines that continue to inspire and mesmerize the youth of today is:
“And if happiness should surprise you again, do not mention its previous betrayal. Enter into the happiness, and burst.”
“وإذا جاءك الفرح, مرة أخرى, فلا تذكر خيانته السابقة. ادخل الفرح, وانفجر!”
During these rather dark and lonely times, those words are able to provide a bit of solace and hope for those that need it.
Amjad Nasser:
Amjad Nasser was a Jordanian poet renowned for being a pivotal force in the innovation of Arabic poetry. He published more than 9 collections of poetry and left a trail of legacies that motivate future minds. Amjad Nasser was also a recipient of multiple prizes for works including the Prize for Creative Writing in Jordan. Journalism, teaching, & editing are some of the few skills and work experiences that Amjad Nasser dabbled in during his lifetime alongside his poetry writing. Throughout his literary career, Nasser never ceased experimenting with his style and continued to dabble in various literary fields.
His poetry revolved around celebrating the small mundane things in everyday life. He approached Arabic poetry in a new distinctive way. Most of his works have been translated into different languages.
One of his most well-known lines is:
“Wherever I go, I remain in the room that my mother infuses each evening with the scent of herbs unknown to me.”
“. إلى أيِّ مكان أذهبُ إليه، أظلُّ نزيل الغرفة التي تبخِّرها أمي كلَّ ليلةٍ برائحة أعشاب لا أعرفها”
This line is very simplistic, but it effortlessly describes an instance of intimacy that we all share with our mothers.
Nadra Mabrouk:
Nadra Mabrouk is the first Egyptian poet to win the Brunel International African Poetry Prize. She published her poetic debut in 2016 and became a rising voice for young female Egyptian contemporary writers. Born in Egypt and raised in the United States, Nadra’s poetry touches on several topics from yearning for the motherland and memories of the past, to embracing her diverse identities.
Although Nadia's authorial success is still in its initial stages, her significance as both a writer and poet has already been established in Egypt's literary circles.
One of her poems were published in an of issue of the Poetry Foundation magazine and it perfectly portrays the innocence of her young brother:
“if he closes his eyes hard enough,
he hears the din of keys
against the door,
the whistling of a man
nearly always caught
in the middle
of an unfinished song”
Yahia Lababidi:
Yahia Labaidi, an Egyptian American poet, is the author of 8 critically acclaimed books and has received multiple adulations from different media platforms such as World Literature Today and The Guardian. He has also published books of aphorisms that were awarded multiple prizes and were used by President Obama’s inaugural poet, Richard Blanco.
Yahia tends to write thought-provoking poetry, induced with the philosophical, mystical and poetic spirit of great writers from the past. Yahia Labaidi is currently a freelance writer with experience throughout the USA, Europe and the Middle East.
One of his poems I often find myself contemplating is:
“Tell me, have you found a sea
deep enough to swim in
deep enough to drown in
waters to engage you
distract you, keep you
from crossing to the other shore?”
The captive quality in this poem lies in the fact that you can always discover a new meaning or understanding of it every time you read it.
Maged Zaher:
Maged Zaher is an Egyptian poet and translator that has published multiple poetry collections. He is the recipient of the 2013 Genius Award in Literature from The Stranger. Recently, he edited, translated and published an anthology of poetry entitled The Tahrir of Poems featuring seven contemporary Egyptian poets. Maged Zaher has created an opportunity for Egyptian poets to share and spread their words all over the world.
The following verses enable a glimpse of Zaher’s artistic talents:
“I'm a few deja-vus from repeating my whole life
I need to study the shapes of things before death
Before declaring myself a better failure”
These lines of raw honesty and vulnerability have resonated with many youths in our generation.
Maram al-Masri:
Maram al-Masri is a Syrian poet deemed to be one of the most notable and charming feminine voices of this generation. She has published countless collections of poetry and literary journals which have been translated into 8 languages. Maram has received numerous prizes, like the "Adonis Prize" of the Lebanese Cultural Forum.
Her unique and valuable poems explore significant subject matters such as home, identity and society. She aims to represent the people of her country and demonstrate the pain and agony they have experienced.
In her collection Liberty Walks Naked she writes:
“The children of Syria
Swaddled in their shrouds
like wrapped sweets.
But, they are not made of sugar,
they are made of flesh
and dreams
and love.”
The lines appear to be simple, but they awaken a spirit inside of us and ask that we listen more closely to the sorrow of those around us.