Literary CornerThe Full Poetic Collection 3/4 [Archives:2006/908/Culture]

By: Abu Al-Kalmah Al-Tayyibah

Author: Ali Abdul-Rahman Jahhaf

Language: Arabic

Publisher: Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Year Published: 2004

In the second part of his poetry collection, the reader gets a greater look at the sophistication of the creative poet Jahhaf, and the part is titled “the Jasmine of April. Note that the simplicity of the author's heavy reliance on the down-to-earth philosophy of rural agricultural life remains with the author, even though his horizons have opened up new realms for the mind to delve in as he becomes more attuned to the “urban” flair of Sana'a (which for the most part has yet to reach the cosmopolitan nature that the city has now taken). Yet, we should bear in mind that Sana'a itself was still very much interfaced with the rural life of Yemen, with many households engaged in some domestic agricultural chores (especially in breeding of livestock.

Abdul-Salam Abbass Al-Wajih, in his introduction to the Second Part calls Ali Abdul-Rahman Jahhaf as the Humanistic Poet. This comes in light of the very strong intuition that the poet has for human feelings: “He is a poet in his writings, a poet in his normal conversation and in his behavior and in all his life can not imagine him to be anything but a poet.

This is Jahhaf as he imaginatively creates a love relationship with a TV newscaster, knowing full well that she is beyond his reach, but nevertheless deserves his emotional attention:

They admonish me for Rania, I wish that they

Would feel what is within me when Rania is mentioned.

Then, I have no feelings, nor the ability

To understand what the person in front of me saying

By her eyes, I have been charmed into a world

Of beauty that drove me crazy for how she looks.

The second part is also full of political analysis and criticism and in all the poems, he makes it a poet to side with the people and reflect their feelings and aspirations. In his creative poem, “I Am Not Here” did not forget his responsibilities as a poet to convey his political inclinations, as an advocate for the oppressed and the general population, who would be better off without the fumbling of politicians, as they seek to advance their own interests or causes, even if at the expense of the interests of the public at large. It is in the Humainy verse:

I am not among those, who spelled the cups1,

And played the game in such a different way.

They raised the prices on purpose,

Which of them will pay out my debts2

I, the poor are an integral part of my being,

All my life, I have never accepted the robbery of souls.

The government supports many artists and poets, and gives them a stable salary to help them meet the cost of living, in case they are unfortunate to be able to meet their needs from the output of their work. Many of them usually come from poor backgrounds, or simply pay little attention to the mundane, and live a rather fatalistic life relying on whatever they can scrounge up to meet the day's needs, while leaving tomorrow to the next day to worry about. Thus Jahhaf was rather amused when all of a sudden the Ministry of Culture cut his subsidy:

Have you reformed the conditions of the greatest Government,

For you my dear friends3 to have to cut my salary!

If in this you find the correction of your economy4

Here, then take my furniture and kitchen utensils.

Take them so the people can live without a crisis.

Again showing his deep affection for the general people and their struggle in life he criticizes those big whigs, who have neglected the plight of their people:

Who is there to believe what my ears are hearing,

While you are standing behind guards and behind a veil5?

I am down on the ground the burning rays of the Sun burning me,

You are under cover amongst the glasses and the pots6.

I live in with a boudoir that has no cover,

While you are living in the palace among roses and myrtle.

I am seeking after mere subsistence,

While to you are driven all the bounties of the world in piles7

You live the life of Onasssis, from thanks to my sweat.

My tears, my suffering and bankruptcy8!

Ramzy: Use the same picture of the cover of the book in last week's LC.

1 A satirical gesture to the politicians, who meet and come to agreement and then “spell the cups” on what they have agreed upon.

2 Here he is placing himself among the people who must drown in debt to meet life's subsistence needs.

3 Here he is alluding modestly to the fact that they all are quite familiar with him.

4 Again, alluding to their responsibility for the bad state of the economy.

5 That covers them from the people. Here, he is speaking about the big officials.

6 I.e., enjoying food and drink

7 I.e., all the amenities of the world

8 Note here he is personifying himself as the people.
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