Gulf | Bahrain
Stirrings of the Arab soul
It was one of the most poignant moments of his life and he knew deep inside that he would cherish it for ever: launching Flight of the Falcon, the book of translated poems, that would make his name soar high in international literature circles.
- By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:00 February 10, 2007
- Al Kalali and Al Gosaibi at the launch of Flight of the Falcon in Manama.
- Image Credit: Habib Toumi/Gulf News
Manama: It was one of the most poignant moments of his life and he knew deep inside that he would cherish it for ever: launching Flight of the Falcon, the book of translated poems, that would make his name soar high in international literature circles.
Nayef Al Kalali has always had a profound passion for poetry in Arabic, but now wants the rest of the world to gain deep insights into this enchanting spring of emotions.
And if the world cannot come to Bahrain to appreciate the poetic similes and metaphors created by icons of the Arab literary community, then he will reach out to the world through publishing a translation of passionate poems that reflect the Arab soul.
“Although there are many great Arab poets that could grace any volume of translated works, I thought that I should go for selected poems by our dear poet-statesman Gazi Al Gosaibi,'' Nayef told Gulf News soon after the launch of the Flight of the Falcon.
The volume of translated poems was originally written by Saudi Arabia's towering literary and political figure Gazi Al Gosaibi, but Nayef decided that the literary work deserved to be seen by the largest number of people.
“His poems have always indicated an outstanding combination of deep emotions and strong passions about every day life events, be they political or personal,'' said Nayef, a poet by love, a translator by passion and an architect by formation, his eyes brightly shining as he utters his words.
To say that he appreciates poems written by Al Gosaibi is to fail to see that Nayef lives by and for poetry.
“Poems have been an integral part of my life ever since I was young. I used to spend hours reading poems, admiring their composition and contemplating their meaning. I was particularly fascinated by the strong words and impressive rhymes used by poets to express their feelings,'' he said.
Tribute to life
He also liked what he termed wide possibilities of the poets. “They not only see a whole world in a grain of sand. They make that grain come alive, contagiously vivacious and admiringly dynamic. Poems by such modern greats as Al Gosaibi and Nizar Al Qabani are a superb tribute to life and human accomplishments.''
Nayef spent ten years corresponding with Al Gosaibi, discussing verses, images and metaphors. “These were great days and I shall always cherish them and recall them with fondness. To talk with the people you admire about a subject that runs in your veins is simply fantastic,'' he said.
Nayef's enthusiasm was so obvious in the translation work that Bahraini publishing house Miracle Graphics Executive Officer Adam Sunderland could only express his admiration.
“Al Kalali has created a painstakingly crafted volume that serves as a wonderful introduction to non-Arabic readers on the vibrancy and modern concerns of today's literary figures in the Arab world, away from the usual domain of newspaper headlines,'' Sunderland said at the launch of the 179-page book.
The 21 translated poems span a period of 48 years, from 1957 to 2005, the date of the Sunset Garden, a personal eulogy written by Al Gosaibi who was at one time Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Bahrain and then to the United Kingdom.
Included in the collection of poems launched at the picturesque House of Quran in Manama in the presence of Al Gosaibi, now Saudi Arabia's Labour Minister, Bahrain's Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammad Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, politicians and litterateurs, are poems on former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Iraqi president Saddam Hussain.
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