Poets mesmerise SIBF audience with evening of verse

Guided by moderator Raa’d Aman, the session artfully blended English and Arabic verse, enhanced by soothing oud interludes, creating an enchanting experience for the gathered audience.
The event celebrated poetry’s universal resonance, transcending linguistic and cultural boundaries. South African poet Sumaya Enyegue captivated attendees with evocative selections from her latest 128-page collection, Heavy is the Head, reciting with heartfelt precision. Her English poems delved into themes of identity and belonging, striking a chord with the diverse audience. 

“I was born to be human, to be a brown girl and free—birthed to be someone, not a headline,” she read passionately, urging listeners not to “let [your] name slip through the hands of people like refined sand.” She also explored the notion of home with phrases like, “Ask me where I am going—to a galaxy where love is the language,” and conveyed the warmth of familial ties with, “Love the one who hurts you—feed on them the most, like fermented fruit.”

Celebrated Syrian poet Hassan Hussein Al-Raei brought Arabic poetry’s rich tradition to life, infusing it with a sense of nostalgia and resilience. Reflecting on night and hope, he shared, “Night feels like my prison, a silent captor, and I yearn to see the dawn. The darkness surrounds me, yet I hold onto the fragile hope that morning will bring light, clarity, and a chance to start anew.” His poetry also recalled memories of Damascus, stating, “Damascus, you once embraced my love, but now, you have forgotten me. The jasmine that once bloomed in your alleys now fades in my memory. Why did you abandon the whispers of our shared dreams? My heart aches for the homeland that exists only in my mind [today].”

Sudanese poet Zakariya Mustafa’s reflective, introspective verses, enhanced by the oud’s melodic backdrop, made each line a sensory experience. His reflections on friendship were especially poignant: “In temptations we meet and in imaginations we travel to destinations, these are our tickets to exile.”

Moderator Raa’d Aman skillfully tied together the poets’ works with the musical ambiance, observing, “Poetry is a universal language. Tonight, we have witnessed its power to bridge cultures, emotions, and experiences.”