Homeland and love themes at Sharjah Poetry House

Acknowledgment

The evening was presented by media personality Hasnaa Janoudi, who said in her introduction: "In our time, God has blessed us with a man who dedicated his heart to poetry, devoting his effort and attention to it. As a result, poets have sung his praises, and caravans of verse have roamed, heralding a beautiful era. A salute to this noble man, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, whose name the oud yearns to hear and whose resonance it echoes, and whose love for knowledge has illuminated every corner of Sharjah." 

Readings

The readings began with the poet Sayed Ahmed Al-Alawi from Bahrain, who dedicated a poem to his father, honouring him, acknowledging his virtue and influence, and drawing guidance from his light on every path he treads. In his poem "A Face Not Reflected by the Mirror," we glimpse the reflection of love and a woman in the poet's soul.

Following him was the poet Ismail Dawwa from Syria, who presented a selection of poems expressing longing for home. In them, he conveyed the alienation of the soul far from its soil and his emotional connection to all the events that occur within it. In another poem, he depicted the struggles of longing within himself.

The evening concluded with the poet Abdullah Al-Dhahli from the Sultanate of Oman. His poems varied throughout the evening. One drew its expressive power from his pride in his Arab identity and his connection to the desert.

In another poem, he engages in a dialogue with time and mirrors, alluding to the passage of time and drawing wisdom about life from this reflection.

Honouring poets

In closing, the poet Mohammed Al-Buraiki honoured the participating poets and the host of the evening.