On the evening of Tuesday, July 28, 2026, the House of Poetry in Sharjah hosted a captivating poetry evening featuring distinguished poets Ahmad Al-Shuaili from Oman, Najat Al-Dhaheri from the UAE, and Anas Jalal Al-Din from Sudan. The event, attended by a diverse audience of critics, fellow poets, and poetry enthusiasts, was managed by the poet Muhammad Abdullah Al-Breiki, the director of the House.
The evening commenced with an introduction by media personality Othman Hassan, who eloquently stated, “Those who wish to live a life that transcends clouds to reach space should read poetry. And for those who want to understand history, they should return to the ruins to imbue them with eternal life. Arabic poetry was born with emotion and yearning, intertwined with history to record it and accompany humanity to realms of wonder and beauty.” He expressed profound gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, for his unwavering support of culture and the arts, reinforcing the idea that poetry and literature are cornerstones of civilization, with Sharjah shining as a beacon of cultural light across the Arab world.
Ahmad Al-Shuaili: A Melodic Opening
Ahmad Al-Shuaili opened the readings with a mesmerising performance that showcased his elegant use of language and varied themes. His poems flowed with delicate rhythms, blending rich language with an easy accessibility. In one poignant piece, he expressed:
لقد جئت يا سيّدي من بعيدٍ
أراوغُ ذاكرتي بالمكانِ
لقد جئتُ أحملُ حزنًا معي
ترهّلَ من ثقلهِ عنفواني
كأني والعمر لم نتّفق
وأقحمني الدهرُ غيرَ زماني
ومن فرةِ الوطنِ المستحيل
قنعتُ بشِبرٍ من الاطمِنانِ
In another poem, Al-Shuaili reflected on the duality of the self, capturing the essence of introspection with:
أطلُّ عليَّ منّي مثل شيخٍ
يطلّ على رعاياه اليتامى
وأحيانًا أدلّلني وأحنو
عليّ.. وتارةً أجدُ الخصاما
أنا هذا المليءُ بآخَريهِ
لهُ منه أخٌ ولهُ ندامى
أحاولُ أن أعلّمَني الكلاما
لتمنحني القواميسُ احتراما
Najat Al-Dhaheri: Evoking Emotion
Najat Al-Dhaheri followed, captivating the audience with her exquisite poem titled “Tarahe Kannah Al-Dunya,” which tenderly explored the theme of fatherhood and the irreplaceable role of a father in a daughter’s life:
تراهُ كأنّهُ الدنيا
وتدركُ أنه سيكونْ
أمانُ وجودهِ يكفي
كبيتٍ دافئٍ وحنونْ
يعلّمها الوجودَ الحلوَ
حبّاً كاملَ التكوينْ
فأولُ من تحبُّ البنتُ
“بابا”.. بعدَهُ الباقونْ
In her second piece, “Qamar Al-Shoara,” she used the metaphor of the moon to speak on the struggles faced by poets and their relentless pursuit of light:
كالبحر أنت.. إذا شكوا تحنو على
قلب الذي يشكو بلا استعلاءِ
يا أيها العالي.. وتدنو كلما
أبصرتهم في وحدة الإسراءِ
سارين نحو النهر.. نهر سلوّهم
عن ذكريات الحب.. كالغرباءِ
لا يحملون سوى الدموع، وزادهم
هذا السراب، وقدرةُ الإيماءِ
Anas Jalal Al-Din: The Essence of Reflection
Concluding the readings, Anas Jalal Al-Din presented a series of poignant poems that drew deeply from his personal experiences, resonating with universal human emotions. In one powerful piece titled “Billah Ya Huzn,” he described the struggles of existence:
يصارع الليل كي يستنطق الصورا
فيشرق الصبح لا ظلاً ولا أثرا
هو الموشح بالأحزان من زمنِ
ضاعت ملامحه للآن ما ظهرا
عمّت مخاوفه أرجاء بهجته
قد أدمن الشك حتى ظنه قدرا
In another poem named “Rawah,” he painted a vivid picture of homeland, drawing parallels between its beauty and the life within it:
قَبْلَ أَنْ تَرْتَدِيَ صَوْتَ هٰذَي الجَرَّاح
فَلْتَكُنْ مَوْجَةً لَا تَهَابُ الرِّيَاحَ
كُنْ صَبَاحًا بَنَىٰ غُصْنُهُ مُورِقُاً
فَوْقَ لَيْلٍ أَتَىٰ قَاهِرًا لِلصَّبَاح
أَنْتَ كُلُّ الَّذِي كُنْتَهُ، وَالذي
لَمْ يَكُنْ شارحاً لليالي النُّوَاح
ارتدي لَوْحَةً حيث تَعْلُو السَّمَاءُ
أَرْضُهَا نِيلُهَا وَالأَغَانِي وِشَاح
As the evening drew to a close, Muhammad Al-Breiki honoured the participating poets and the evening’s host, celebrating their contributions to the rich tapestry of Arabic poetry.