MESA Banner
Three Poets from Yemen
Abstract by Dr. Muhammad Aziz On Session II-08  (Yemeni Poetry in Perspective)

On Thursday, December 1 at 5:30 pm

2022 Annual Meeting

Abstract
All over the Arab world, poetry is recited and sung, and especially so in Yemen. Although the function of Yemeni poetry is mainly dedicated for special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, historical events and political views, its significance for everyday life is undisputable. Notwithstanding trauma of the current civil war among the Yemenis, the Yemeni poetry is thriving and enjoying the profuse production of poetical collections. In this presentation, I will be talking about three poets who come from the region of Ibb in the middle of Yemen. This geographical area is famous for inspiring poets due to its uncontaminated environment. This can be attested by a variety of factors such as its green agriculture, its fresh air, and beautiful sceneries that can be appreciated by travelers. One of these poets is Muḥammad Aḥmad ‘Abūd Bā Salāmah who was born in Ibb in 1934 and died in 1993. The second poet is ‘Abdulkarim al-Shuwaiṭer, who was born in Ibb in 1950, and who is still alive, and who experienced the uprising of the Arab spring, including the one erupted in Sanaa (the capital of Yemen). I have known him personally very well more than the other two. The third poet is Muḥammad Aḥmad Manṣūr who was born in 1930 in in the village of al-Ja’āshin in region of al-‘Udayn, which is one hour drive from the town of Ibb, and who died in 2021. My personal acquaintance with the two poets who were born in Ibb was due to their fame on the one hand, and their approachability on the other. I only know about the third poet from secondary sources and through his diwān (a collection of poems). In this presentation, I will be addressing some of the major themes of their poetry as can be documented in their diwāns. One aspect that needs some attention here is the fact that all three poets were regular chewers of qāt (a Yemeni plant that has a similar effect of a coffee). Many Yemeni poets believe that qāt is a helping factor in making their concentration focus on the meter, rhyme, and images of the poem. The idea of inspiration will be tackled when I examine some extracts of their poetry.
Discipline
Literature
Geographic Area
Yemen
Sub Area
Middle East/Near East Studies