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The Manifestations of Poetry Under Raindrops in the Collection 'Rain on the Cheek of Clay' by Poet Hussein Al-Sayyab

The Manifestations of Poetry Under Raindrops in the Collection 'Rain on the Cheek of Clay' by Poet Hussein Al-Sayyab

Yemenat11-06-2025
The collection 'Rain on the Cheek of Clay' by Iraqi poet Hussein Al-Sayyab is a remarkable work that reflects the contradictions of human existence, blending pain and beauty, nostalgia and despair. It is characterized by profound meanings that illustrate how elements of nature interact with human experiences, making it a poetic journey that seeks to discover new meanings of life. Published by the General Union of Writers and Authors in Iraq in Baghdad in 2024, it consists of 86 pages.
A Reading of the Title
The title 'Rain on the Cheek of Clay' serves as a rich entry point for understanding the depth of the poetic texts. It embodies an interaction between rain, symbolizing life and renewal, and clay, representing roots and daily reality. This interaction illustrates how beauty can emerge even in the harshest conditions, reflecting the poet's ability to transform pain into beauty. When rain falls on the cheek of clay, it signifies a moment of inspiration and renewal, where elements of nature interact to create a poetic image that reflects a rich human experience. Al-Sayyab addresses the struggle between the desire for spiritual elevation and reality, enriching his texts with a range of emotions from hope to nostalgia.
The Emotional Dimension
Feelings of love manifest vividly in many of the texts, as Al-Sayyab employs poetic language that conveys passion and nostalgia. In one poem, he writes, 'I left all my dreams open in hopes that you might come,' illustrating how love can be a source of hope and renewal. He describes love with emotional depth when he states, 'Come and carve into the depths of poetry verses that travel and honor the death of songs,' reflecting how love transcends boundaries to become part of the poetic experience. Yet, love is not without pain, a theme Al-Sayyab clearly expresses in his works. He writes, 'The sidewalks of absence pull me toward you, and I do not know how to escape from you!' This line reveals the internal struggle between the desire for connection and the fear of loss. The feeling of sorrow recurs in his words: 'This sad rain makes me like a child weeping,' where he expresses his surrender to feelings of grief and pain, adding a profound humanity to his texts.
The Quest for Beauty
The search for beauty intertwines with all other experiences in the collection. Al-Sayyab reveals his passion for beauty when he states, 'I practice the seduction of the soul in the gatherings of the repentant,' seeking to find beauty even in moments of vulnerability. He articulates this quest clearly when he says, 'I do not relent to the raging waves of your eyes, but the magic you emit to the world astonishes me,' reflecting his constant pursuit of beauty, which is an essential element in his verses. Nature serves as a symbol of hope and renewal, as the poet expresses his deep connection to it, as seen in his line, 'The memory of a cloud heavy with the waters of homelands,' showcasing feelings of loss and longing.
The Artistic Structure
Hussein Al-Sayyab's style is characterized by its diversity and richness, employing a range of poetic techniques. One of the most prominent elements of his style is his vivid imagery, which allows him to create striking and impactful scenes. For instance, his comparison of a woman to a 'passing specter' provides the reader with a profound emotional experience. Symbols in Al-Sayyab's texts play a crucial role in understanding deeper meanings, where rain serves as a symbol of life and clay represents reality, expressing the tension between the longing for spiritual elevation and the constraints imposed by the real world.
Al-Sayyab's language is marked by simplicity and clarity, infused with a touch of poetic beauty, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in his poetic realm. The rhythm contributes to a sense of fluidity, allowing the reader to engage more deeply with the texts. While Al-Sayyab addresses the harsh realities of life filled with difficulties, he also strives toward imaginative worlds in search of spiritual elevation. In his works, he navigates between these two realms, creating a contrasting image that reflects the tension between what is real and what is imagined.
Symbols and natural elements contribute to embodying this struggle, as rain becomes a means of escaping the harshness of reality. Nature also plays a significant role in shaping the imagination, evoking a sense of nostalgia and reflecting the conflict between beautiful memories and the starkness of reality.
A Sample from the Poems of Hussein Al-Sayyab
(Leaves Left by the Rain)
This sea is mine,
Drowning in its depths, I seek no escape.
Its waves are my rebellious verses,
I fear the winds might cast them into the streets of sorrow.
I worry they might seep beneath the damp homes of the poor,
To be snatched by the rats that spy on the destitute.
This sea illuminates my heart
When the sky withholds its light.
Like a child, I weep for it and stir its sorrows,
Like a mother gathering my tears that slip through my words
And casting them to the moon.
It cloaks me in the spirit of water,
Singing to me the chants of sailors,
Defiant, with sun-kissed faces and the memory of fish.
This sea is solely mine,,
Drowning in its depths, I seek no escape.
Biography and Literary Achievements
Hussein Al-Sayyab is an Iraqi poet and writer from Baghdad, holding a diploma in management and economics. He is a member of the Union of Writers and Authors in Iraq and a member of the 'Cultural Without Masks' Foundation in Baghdad. He serves as an advisor to the Haiku House in Tunis.
Al-Sayyab has participated in cultural festivals and seminars across several Arab countries, including Tunisia, Egypt, and Syria. He made a notable appearance at the 35th Al-Murabbi Festival in Basra, as well as at the Rawaef Arts Festival in Kairouan. He has also taken part in poetry sessions at the Arab Poetry House in Kairouan and the Creativity and Arts Festival in Cairo over two editions.
In terms of his literary works, he published his first poetry collection, 'At the Heart's Timing,' in Baghdad in 2019, followed by a second edition in 2020. He released his second collection, 'Chants of Pain,' in 2020, and 'Sand Melodies' in 2022, along with 'Rain on the Cheek of Clay' in 2024.
In the realm of journalism and media, many of his poems have appeared in prominent Iraqi and Arab newspapers and magazines such as 'Al-Sabah,' 'Al-Haqiqa,' and 'Al-Masry Al-Youm.' Additionally, he has written cultural articles that feature critical studies of his poetry collections by Iraqi and Arab critics, including poet and critic Jabbar Al-Kawaz, Professor Abd Al-Sada Al-Basri, and Professor Huda Kraid.
In conclusion, the collection 'Rain on the Cheek of Clay' showcases texts that reflect profound human experiences through feelings of love, pain, and the search for beauty. The struggle between reality and imagination is vividly apparent, as Al-Sayyab employs symbols and natural elements to embody this tension, enriching his poetic experience and enhancing its impact. With his diverse poetic style and vivid imagery, Al-Sayyab successfully conveys complex emotions with clarity and beauty, making this collection a complete artistic work. It stands out as one of the prominent contributions to contemporary Arabic literature, reflecting the poet's ability to articulate the pains and hopes of humanity in a time filled with challenges.
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The Impact of the Digital Space on Yemeni Poetry

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The Impact of the Digital Space on Yemeni Poetry

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Al-Jilani observes that Zuckerberg has replaced traditional poetic stimuli in Arab culture; where poets once addressed ruins, traveling companions, or the night, they now engage with Zuckerberg as a symbol of the virtual realm. Furthermore, Al-Jilani views him as an inspiration and motivator for writing, akin to the 'devil of poetry' in ancient Arab culture or to Apollo, the god of poetry in Greek mythology. With Great Surprise Al-Jilani presents numerous Facebook poetic texts illustrating how the direct question from Facebook ('What are you thinking?') has become a primary catalyst for poetic expression. A poet may face their Facebook page feeling an intellectual void, then navigate through other pages, merging into the blue space until stimuli arise, igniting a desire to write. This process resembles a conversation with a beloved or receiving inspiration. Finally, they confront the larger question, 'What are you thinking?' which sparks their poetic voice. Al-Jilani equates this inquiry with the traditional question 'What did he say?' that once motivated oral poets in regions like Tihama, asserting that this parallel indicates that the change is not a complete break from the past but rather an intersection with it—a contemporary reproduction of the conventions and traditions of the imagined interlocutor in Arabic poetry. Al-Jilani's study addresses a critical point raised by critic Waleed Al-Khashab regarding the uniqueness of this phenomenon in Arabic culture. There is a tendency towards personification and characterization, often laced with irony, depicting the Facebook platform as a game controlled by a single figure—Mark Zuckerberg—who seems to monitor every detail published and is frequently mentioned in various forms in comments, or even addressed personally in Arabic. Al-Jilani questions whether the phenomenon of Mark Zuckerberg transforming into a poetic muse for the new generation of Arabic prose poets is exclusive to these poets or if it has a parallel in European languages and others. He acknowledges that verifying the uniqueness of this phenomenon in European languages requires extensive investigation. Nonetheless, he emphasizes its significant presence in Arab culture and its immense relevance in our daily interactions with this virtual space. The crucial point here is the vast space that Mark Zuckerberg occupies as an imagined interlocutor or catalyst for expression, which reinterprets the traditions of ancient Arabic poetic discourse in a contemporary manner. Fourth: The expansion of Facebook's role in new prose poetry is incessant, with appropriations and substitutions far exceeding our estimations. The platform now fulfills roles that various entities once performed. For instance, Facebook acts as the narrator that conveyed the poet's verses and news during the pre-Islamic and early Islamic periods. The Facebook wall resembles the Kaaba's wall during the era of pre-Islamic odes. Additionally, Facebook replaces traditional publishing mediums (newspapers and magazines) and the poetry reading halls, literary seminars, and poetry festivals. With just the press of a publish button, a poet's page becomes an exhibition hall for their poetry, with a virtual audience ready for immediate interaction. As for Al-Jilani's question regarding whether this phenomenon is exclusive to Arab poets, the answer appears quite challenging. From my knowledge of English literature, I can assert that there are numerous poems and critical articles in English addressing Facebook as a social and cultural phenomenon, but their themes differ significantly. These works often focus on Facebook addiction, its impact on individuals and relationships, and feelings of loneliness despite having many virtual friends. They also explore Facebook's influence on users' sense of identity and self-image and raise concerns regarding data collection and usage. For example, notable poems such as 'The Facebook Sonnet' by Sherman Alexie and works by poet Brian Bilston personify Facebook and discuss its psychological and social impacts. I have also encountered some poetic texts or articles directly addressing Mark Zuckerberg; however, these addresses are typically critical or protest-oriented, especially concerning issues like privacy violations or the platform's societal impact (e.g., the poem 'Dear Mr. Mark Zuckerberg… Do Not Give Away Our Data'). There are also humorous poems or light-hearted comments mentioning him as a public figure, but they do not regard him as a 'poetic muse' or 'demon inspiring expression.' Additionally, some articles discuss the role of poetry or the arts in inspiring business leaders, indicating that tech leaders speak about poetry's influence on their innovations. However, those discussions do not suggest that poets in European languages are addressing tech CEOs (including Zuckerberg) as 'gods of poetry' or 'inspiring demons' of poetic expression. The tendency to personify and directly address Mark Zuckerberg as a 'demon of poetry' or 'beloved' (as mentioned in Tihama context) may be a phenomenon unique to Arabic poetic culture, or at least more pronounced and rooted in its cultural context compared to that of European languages. We can affirm that the relationship between the poet, the platform, and its founder in those languages appears different; it is less inclined toward mythologizing or spiritualizing.

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