Dubai: As two young symbols of Emirati poetry embarked on an evening dedicated to poetry lovers, the audience in the packed hall at the Dubai World Trade Centre knew they were in for an unforgettable artistic treat.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended a poetry evening on Saturday night organised as part of the Dubai International Poetry Festival which ends tomorrow.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Fazza'a), Crown Prince of Dubai, and Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Azzam), Chairman of Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, led the poetry soiree which saw the attendance of more than 3,000 people including youngsters and elderly.
The two poets set the night on fire with their poems, whose themes were patriotism and love, recited with the passion of great and true poets, which blended with the continuous claps, cheers and whistles from the crowd expressing their enjoyment.
Shaikh Hamdan asked Shaikh Ahmad to start the evening with a poem after which Shaikh Hamdan said his choice of poetry at the evening was directed to Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad.
Shaikh Ahmad said: "Sharing the stage with Shaikh Hamdan meant Shaikh Hamdan's modesty, more than my success."
The poems recited were a mix of patriotic and love poems which were appreciated by everyone in the hall, with many of them expressing their admiration.
The hall was packed with thousands of people from different nationalities in addition to the acclaimed poets taking part at the festival.
Dorotheia Rosa Herliani, an Indonesian poet attending the function, said she had been looking forward to the evening, which brought the two young poets together.
She said the only thing she felt was missing was a translation of the poem but added that she had been very excited and had greeted the evening with much anticipation.
Umm Saeed, an elderly Emirati who accompanied her college-going granddaughter to the evening, said her grandchild had insisted on her attendance to the point where she gave in.
"I am happy that I attended. It was a different atmosphere and the poems were very nice and expressive," she said.
Sultan, a 12-year-old boy, said he had attended the event with an interest to seing Shaikh Hamdan, whom he considers his role model.
"I came here with my elder brother who is also a big fan of Shaikh Hamdan. I wish to be like Shaikh Hamdan and recite poetry when I grow up," he said.
Aisha Al Shamsi, a government employee, said; "The evening was spectacular and I enjoyed it thoroughly, especially (give the fact) that I read poetry and enjoy reading poems of Shaikh Mohammad and Shaikh Hamdan specifically. Shaikh Ahmad's poetry was an added bonus to the evening."
Meanwhile, today's events include a literary session titled 'Vernacular Poetry - Reality and Aspiration', which will start at 10am at the Madinat Theatre.
Khalaf Al Harbi, event moderator, will focus on the evolution of the rich oral tradition of Nabti poetry, popularly known as 'People's Poetry'.
- With inputs from WAM
