Emirati poet discusses creative process of her collection

The Emirati poet was joined by translator Persa Koumoutsi as well as Greek publisher and poet Giorgos Alisanoglou at the SBA pavilion, as part of the Sharjah Guest of Honour programme. This special occasion marked the release of the translated version of Alghanem’s poetry collection “Sea and Horizon in a Narrow Road” in Greek, showcasing the promotion of Emirati culture in Greece.

One of the most prominent female Arab poets 
Alghanem opened up about her creative journey during the session saying, “In the book's preface, I apologised to the Japanese poet Matsuo Basho because I did not adhere to the strict syllabic structure of Haiku. When choosing the subgenre, I chose Zen Poems because Haiku is linked to Zen, a path to liberation, and my poems are deeply contemplative.” She also thanked Rewayat Publishing House for publishing the book, a subsidiary of Kalimat Group.

Alghanem further revealed her thoughts on translations, mentioning, “I am usually apprehensive about translations and tend to avoid having my poems translated into languages I do not know. However, translating my collection into Greek was different. The process was smooth, particularly because I trust the translator, Persa Koumoutsi.” The Emirati and Koumoutsi recited selections from her collection in an engaging poetic dialogue that took participants on a journey into the world of poetry.

Koumoutsi praised the Emirati poet, stating, “Alghanem is one of the most prominent female poetic voices in the Arab region. I say this with confidence, having translated over 500 poems by Arab poets. The Emirati possess a unique poetic individuality rarely found in contemporary poets.”

Greek publisher and poet Giorgos Alisanoglou commended the translation of Alghanem’s poetry collection, emphasising, “The Emirati poet is one of a kind in the Arab world. I was deeply moved by this poetry that shares profound qualities with Japanese Haiku.”