Dubai: Mohammad Khalifa Bin Haydher, father of patriotic and romantic poems, died in Paris on Wednesday following a heart attack. He was 63.
Bin Haydher's has left a big void in the cultural scene of the country as he was a prominent figure. He was a man of beautiful and creative words.
He also contributed in enhancing the existence and positive effect of traditional Arab poetry. He was as great as the great Arab poets through time and history and his literary Majlis at home was a centre where intellectuals and creative writers gathered and met.
He was inspired by his grandmother Mariam Bint Ali who came from the Al Mansouri tribe and was herself a poet, famous not only for her own verses but also for her powerful recitals of other people's works.
Professional life
Born in 1948, Bin Haydher started his professional life in the UAE embassy in Beirut after which he was made UAE Consul in Karachi.
Leaving the field of diplomacy, he started his own trading business. Later he was appointed a member in the Federal National Council, representing Dubai for one term.
He was also a founding member and Deputy Chairman of the Culture and Science Nadwa for several terms which he established with Mohammad Al Murr; and he was also member of the Cultural Forum magazine's editorial board, issued in Dubai.
His poems and articles attracted a large following of readers and fans.
Excerpts of his Arabic poetry
Dubai's Light
Your light shall never fade
as it lightens up clouds and moon
For how will it's light ever fade
when the face of ‘Mohammad'* lights it all
Return to me and give me back my memories
With them my spellbound nights will return
The days of youth
Will flutter their green wings on life
Do return as my sentiments are weary of embracing sleepy indolence
* His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
