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Poems

Nizār Qabbānī

First published 1993 · 255 pages

A passionate, accessible collection that intertwines the intoxicating beauty of romantic love with fierce political defiance.

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What it feels like

Reading this collection feels like sitting in a sunlit courtyard, listening to a close friend pour out their heart. The verses flow with a steady, musical rhythm, stripping away academic pretense to speak directly in the language of everyday life. It is an intensely sensual and intimate experience, wrapping the reader in profound romantic devotion and the celebration of feminine beauty. Yet, beneath the tender surface lies a fierce, defiant undercurrent of political disillusionment and a yearning for freedom. The emotional texture shifts seamlessly from intoxicating love to the sharp sorrow of exile and societal critique. It will deeply delight readers who want their poetry to be both unabashedly romantic and courageously rebellious, offering a timeless exploration of the human heart.

Mood
  • sensual
  • intimate
  • yearning
  • melancholic
Tone
  • passionate
  • direct
  • romantic
  • defiant
  • earnest
Pace
steady
Themes
romantic devotion · political disillusionment · feminine beauty · rebellion against oppression · exile and longing
The writing
Direct, spontaneous, and highly musical, utilizing the accessible language of everyday life to convey profound, sweeping emotions.
The arc
Moves from the intoxicating heights of romantic devotion to the sharp, sorrowful sting of political critique and longing for freedom.
Who it's for
Readers who crave deeply romantic, accessible poetry that seamlessly intertwines personal passion with fierce political conviction.
Content notes
  • political oppression
  • war themes
  • grief

About the book

"Nizar Kabbani was a poet of great simplicity - direct, spontaneous, musical, using the language of everyday life. He was a ceaseless campaigner for women's rights, and his verses praise the beauty of the female body, and of love. He was an Arab nationalist, yet he criticized Arab dictators and the lack of freedom in the Arab world." "Frangieh and Brown's elegant translations are accompanied by the striking Arabic texts of the poems, penned by Kabbani especially for this collection."--BOOK JACKET.

"Nizar Kabbani was a poet of great simplicity - direct, spontaneous, musical, using the language of everyday life. He was a ceaseless campaigner for women's rights, and his verses praise the beauty of the female body, and of love. He was an Arab nationalist, yet he criticized Arab dictators and the lack of freedom in the Arab world." "Frangieh and Brown's elegant translations are accompanied by the striking Arabic texts of the poems, penned by Kabbani especially for this collection."--Jacket.

Description from Open Library.

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