Modern Arabic Poetry
Encyclopedia
By definition, Arabic poetry
is poetry
written in formal Arabic and follows one of the 16 rhymes (Arabic "بحور الشعر"). The structure follows an internal or/and external technique. Historians of Arabic literature
not only classified Arabic poetry
in reference to sequential periods of the nations that had ruled in the Arab regions but also the poets according to their nationality such as: Iraqi poets, Palestinian poets, etc….
In general, researchers and critics of Arabic poetry
classify this poetry
in two categories: classical and modern poetry. Classical poetry was written before the Arabs' awakening. Thus, all poetry
that was written in the classical style is called classical or traditional poetry since it follows the traditional style and structure. It is also known as horizontal poetry in reference to its horizontal parallel structure.
Modern poetry, on the other hand, deviated from classical poetry in its content, style, structure, rhyme and topics. Stylistically, modern Arabic poetry can be classified in several categories such as: free poetry, modernity poetry, contemporary poetry, trochee poetry and prose
. Other classification can be set according to the generation such as: the sixtieth poetry, the seventieth poetry etc. Some of the classification might not mean anything but others reflect controversial point of views between critics and poets' artistic styles and topics.
Jamil Sidqi al-Zahawi
Mahmoud Darwish
Samih al-Qasim
Adunis
Yusuf al-Khal
Bouland al-Hiydari
Muzaffar al-Nawab
Badr Shakir al-Sayyab
Nazik Al-Malaika
Aunsi al-Haaj
Nizar Qabbani
Sargon Boulus
Amal Dunqul
Arabic poetry
Arabic poetry is the earliest form of Arabic literature. Present knowledge of poetry in Arabic dates from the 6th century, but oral poetry is believed to predate that. Arabic poetry is categorized into two main types, rhymed, or measured, and prose, with the former greatly preceding the latter...
is poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
written in formal Arabic and follows one of the 16 rhymes (Arabic "بحور الشعر"). The structure follows an internal or/and external technique. Historians of Arabic literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
not only classified Arabic poetry
Arabic poetry
Arabic poetry is the earliest form of Arabic literature. Present knowledge of poetry in Arabic dates from the 6th century, but oral poetry is believed to predate that. Arabic poetry is categorized into two main types, rhymed, or measured, and prose, with the former greatly preceding the latter...
in reference to sequential periods of the nations that had ruled in the Arab regions but also the poets according to their nationality such as: Iraqi poets, Palestinian poets, etc….
In general, researchers and critics of Arabic poetry
Arabic poetry
Arabic poetry is the earliest form of Arabic literature. Present knowledge of poetry in Arabic dates from the 6th century, but oral poetry is believed to predate that. Arabic poetry is categorized into two main types, rhymed, or measured, and prose, with the former greatly preceding the latter...
classify this poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
in two categories: classical and modern poetry. Classical poetry was written before the Arabs' awakening. Thus, all poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
that was written in the classical style is called classical or traditional poetry since it follows the traditional style and structure. It is also known as horizontal poetry in reference to its horizontal parallel structure.
Modern poetry, on the other hand, deviated from classical poetry in its content, style, structure, rhyme and topics. Stylistically, modern Arabic poetry can be classified in several categories such as: free poetry, modernity poetry, contemporary poetry, trochee poetry and prose
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
. Other classification can be set according to the generation such as: the sixtieth poetry, the seventieth poetry etc. Some of the classification might not mean anything but others reflect controversial point of views between critics and poets' artistic styles and topics.
List of most well known poets in modern Arabic poetry are
Ahmed Zaki AbushadyJamil Sidqi al-Zahawi
Jamil Sidqi al-Zahawi
Jamil Sidqi al-Zahawi was a prominent Iraqi poet and philosopher. He is regarded as one of the greatest contemporary poets of the Arab world and was known for his defense of women's rights.-Biography:...
Mahmoud Darwish
Mahmoud Darwish
Mahmoud Darwish was a Palestinian poet and author who won numerous awards for his literary output and was regarded as the Palestinian national poet...
Samih al-Qasim
Samih al-Qasim
Samīħ al-Qāsim Samīħ al-Qāsim Samīħ al-Qāsim ( is an Israeli Druze whose Arabic poetry is well-known throughout Arab World. His poetry is influenced by two primary periods of his life: Before and after the Six-Day War. He joined the Communist Hadash political party in 1967...
Adunis
Yusuf al-Khal
Yusuf al-Khal
Yusuf al-Khal was a Syrian-born poet. He made his career largely in Lebanon.With Ali Ahmad Said , al-Khal founded the magazine Shi'r in Beirut in 1957. [Irwin, 24] His poetry has also been recognized in Near East poetry collections. - Featured works :* al-Khal, Yusuf. The Flag of Childhood: Poems...
Bouland al-Hiydari
Muzaffar al-Nawab
Badr Shakir al-Sayyab
Badr Shakir al-Sayyab
Badr Shakir al Sayyab is an Iraqi and Arab poet, born in Jekor, a town south of Basra in Iraq. The eldest child of a date grower and shepherd. He graduated from the Higher teachers training college of Baghdad in 1948...
Nazik Al-Malaika
Nazik Al-Malaika
Nazik Al-Malaika , Al-Malaika in English: Angels , she was an Iraqi female poet and is considered by many to be one of most influential contemporary Iraqi female poets....
Aunsi al-Haaj
Nizar Qabbani
Nizar Qabbani
Nizar Tawfiq Qabbani was a Syrian diplomat, poet and publisher. His poetic style combines simplicity and elegance in exploring themes of love, eroticism, feminism, religion, and Arab nationalism...
Sargon Boulus
Sargon Boulus
Sargon Boulus was an Iraqi-Assyrian poet and short story writer.He was born in Habbaniyah, Iraq. In 1967, he left for Beirut, where he worked as a journalist and a translator. He later emigrated to the United States, and from 1968 lived in San Francisco. He studied comparative literature at the...
Amal Dunqul