Nizar Qabbani

Nizar Qabbani

Nizar Qabbani (1923-1998): Syrian poet and diplomat whose subject matter, at first strictly romantic, grew to embrace political issues as well. Written in simple but eloquent language, his verses, some of which were set to music, won the hearts of countless Arabic speakers throughout the Arab World. Qabbani, who was born into a middle-class merchant family, was also the grandnephew of the pioneering Arab playwright Abu Khalil Al-Qabbani. He studied law at the University of Damascus (graduated in 1945), then began his varied career as a diplomat. He served in the Syrian embassies in Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Britain, China, and Spain before retiring in 1966 and moving to Beirut, Lebanon, where he founded the Manshurat Nizar Qabbani, a publishing company. Meanwhile, he also wrote much poetry, at first in classic forms, then in free verse, which he helped establish in modern Arabic poetry. His poetic language is noted for capturing the rhythms of everyday Syrian speech.
The suicide of his sister, who was unwilling to marry a man she did not love, had a profound effect on Qabbani, and much of his poetry concerns the experiences of women in traditional Arab society. Verses on the beauty and desirability of women filled Qabbani's first four collections. Qasa'id min Nizar Qabbani (1956; "Poems by Nizar Qabbani") was a turning point in his art; in it he expressed resentment of male chauvinism. It also included his famed "Bread, Hashish and Moon," a harsh attack on weak, impoverished societies that live in a haze of fantasies. Thereafter, he often wrote from a woman's viewpoint and advocated social freedoms for women. His Hawamish 'Ala daftar al-naksa (1967; "Marginal Notes on the Book of Defeat") was a stinging critique of unrealistic Arab leadership during the Six-Day War with Israel. Among his more than 20 poetry collections, the most noted volumes are Habibati (1961; "My Beloved") and Al-rasm bi-al-kalimat (1966; "Drawing with Words"). Qasa'id hubb 'Arabiyah ("Arabian Love Poems") was published in 1993.

Sorrows in Andaluciaأحزان في الأندلس
Chooseإختاري
I Ask You to Leaveأسألك الرحيلا
Children Bearing Stonesأطفال الحجارة
Get Angryإغضب
A Tetstimony in Poetry's Trialإفادة في محكمة الشعر
Does He Think So?أيظن؟
Waiting for Godotبانتظار غودو
Baghdadبغداد
The Poem of Challengesقصيدة التحديات
Gold Engraving on a Damascene Swordترصيع بالذهب على سيف دمشقي
The World Blames Meتلومني الدنيا
The Holeالثقب
Your Body is My Mapجسمك خارطتي
Gamal Abdel Nasserجمال عبد الناصر
The Ruler and the Birdالحاكم والعصفور
Love and Oilالحب والبترول
Bread, Hashish and Moonخبز وحشيش وقمر
Five Letters to My Motherخمس رسائل إلى أمي
Rachel and Her Sistersراشيل وأخواتها
Letter to Gamal Abdel Nasserرسالة إلى جمال عبد الناصر
Letter from a Soldier on the Suez Frontرسالة جندي في جبهة السويس
Letter from Underwaterرسالة من تحت الماء
Letter to a Manرسالة إلى رجل ما
Dialogue with Taha Husseinحوار ثوري مع طه حسين
Motherأم المعتز
My Fatherأبي
The Interrogationالاستجواب
An Apology to Abou Tammamقصيدة اعتذار لأبي تمام
Symphony of the Southالسيمفونية الجنوبية
Poets of the Occupied Landشعراء الأرض المحتلة
One Wayطريق واحد
Abdel Men'em Riyadhعبد المنعم رياض
Granadaغرناطة
The Fortunetellerقارئة الفنجان
Jerusalemالقدس
The Aspirin Pillقرص الأسبرين
The Poem of Sorrowقصيدة الحزن
The Damascene Poemالقصيدة الدمشقية
Say I love Youقولي أحبك
Wordsكلمات
Don't Ask Meلا تسألوني
With a Newspaperمع جريدة
Notes at Times of Love and Warملاحظات في زمن الحب والحرب
Commando Graffiti on Israel's Wallsمنشورات فدائية على جدران إسرائيل
From the Diary of a Damascene Loverمن مفكرة عاشق دمشقي
Morphineمورفين
River of Sorrowsنهر الأحزان
Oil Attacked Us Like a Wolfهجم النفط مثل ذئب علينا
The Fourth Pyramidالهرم الرابع
Marginal Notes on the Book of Defeatهوامش على دفتر النكسة
Beirut, Lady of the Worldبيروت يا ست الدنيا
Your Handيدك
Little Thingsشؤون صغيرة
Pregnantحبلى
The Actorsالممثلون
The Speechالخطاب
A Damascene Songموال دمشقي

FONTE (photo include): Poetry of Nizar Qabbani

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