Last night, a seminar titled "Departure and Farewell in Arabic Poetry" was held as part of the cultural activities of the 33rd Doha International Book Fair. The fair is taking place under the slogan "Civilizations are Built with Knowledge" at the Doha International Convention Center until May 18.
The seminar featured participation from Saudi poet and researcher Hamoud Al-Sahoud and Syrian poet Mohammad Yassin Saleh. The discussion focused on the concept of "departure," which signifies instability, its purposes, and some customs and beliefs associated with it. Poet Hamoud Al-Sahoud emphasized that departure is a significant theme in pre-Islamic poetry, noting how poets described their journeys on camels across deserts, mountains, and valleys, as well as the relationship of departure to ruins, among other topics.
The speakers explored the themes of departure and farewell, particularly their impact and connection to pre-Islamic poetry, as it relates to the nature of the environment and the general life conditions of that time, which necessitated movement and travel. They examined the various purposes and diversities associated with departure.
Both poets presented some poetic examples related to this theme, which contains a poetic heritage immortalized by Arabs from the pre-Islamic era to modern times. Each poet recited their own verses addressing the themes of departure and farewell.
Al-Sahoud lightly narrated how travel served as a source of livelihood, emphasizing the considerable status and esteem given to travelers as sources of news and poetry. He also spoke about traveling for the sake of knowledge and the public's interest in it, transitioning to the stages of travel and farewell, which come with moments of pause, reflection, and parting—some of the most painful and intense aspects of departure, citing numerous Arabic references in this context.
Syrian poet Mohammad Yassin Saleh discussed various Arabic poems that address these themes and noted that departure encompasses many virtues, citing the story of Prophet Moses when he traveled seeking knowledge from the righteous servant Al-Khidr. He concluded with poetic lines, including: "A person may achieve a dream while still young, and you may see an elder turn away from guidance."
In a related event, the Qatar Poetry Center organized an evening of classical poetry, featuring poets from Qatar—Hamid Al-Juhrab, Ziyad Al-Otaibi, and Hamid Al-Buraidi—and poets from Oman: Hamoud bin Wahqa, Zaid Al-Shuhhi, and Mundhir Al-Futaisi. The poets competed to present the sweetest words reflecting the historical and cultural ties between the Qatari and Omani peoples, with their clever expressions converging.
The poets recited many poems across various poetic themes, particularly those advocating for moral virtues.
In a statement to the Qatari News Agency "QNA" on the sidelines of the evening, the director of the Qatar Poetry Center, Shabeeb bin Arar Al-Naemi, noted that the Doha International Book Fair embodies a wealth of literature and creativity, whether through books or activities, and showcases cultural and intellectual figures.
He explained that the center is actively participating in the fair by offering a series of literary seminars and poetry evenings, both for Nabati and classical poetry. He highlighted that the center presented the poets who qualified for the finals of the Mithail competition in collaboration with Oman's guest of honor at this year's fair.
He remarked on the strong turnout for such cultural events, especially with the emphasis on poetry evenings that promote values, stating, "The poetry we aim to present carries cultural and ethical messages beneficial to the audience."