Author: Nizar Kabbani
Nizar Kabbani’s book “Arabian Love Poems” (1998), translated by Palestinian scholars Bassam Frangieh and Clementina R. Brown, takes readers on an emotional journey driven by the power of love and grief.
Legendary poet Kabbani (1923-1998) was born in Damascus, Syria, and was one of the most popular Arab poets of the 20th century.
During his lifetime, Kabbani was a diplomat, poet, writer and publisher. Inspired by his surroundings, Kabbani’s collection anthology explores the themes of love, religion, grief, as well as Arab and women empowerment.
As the title of the book suggests, “Arabian Love Poems” has a theme of love embedded in each poem. Kabbani gives readers a glimpse of his romantic mind through his poetry that pierces the soul.
Unlike many popular poets who write poetry in traditional forms such as sonnets, Kabbani uses a flexible style of writing called “free verse poetry,” resulting in an effortlessly flowing piece consisting of uncensored thoughts.
Although Kabbani uses simple and direct language in his poetry, he never fails to capture the depth of his emotions. If anything, the simplicity of his poetry is what makes it resonate with most readers.
What makes this book a standout is the sensory imagery, providing the reader with a beautiful visualization through his carefully crafted words.
“I hadn’t told them about you.
“But they saw you bathing in my eyes.
“I hadn’t told them about you.
“But they saw you written in my words.
“The perfume of love cannot be concealed.”
Translated books can often fail to capture the essence felt in the original text, but the translation from Arabic to English in “Arabian Love Poems” is truly superb. It gives the English reader the chance to dive into the rich world of Arab poetry.
