Basra hosts evening of folk poetry, drawing poets from across Iraq

BASRA — An evening of folk poetry lit up Basra on Friday as part of the Al-Tariq Al-Adabi Forum’s second season. Poets from Basra, Maysan, Baghdad, and Karbala gathered to celebrate the art form, with the event attracting an enthusiastic local audience known for its love of poetry and literature.

Ahmed Al-Gharib, a poet from Maysan, shared his admiration for the Basra audience, telling 964media, “The folk poetry audience in Basra is extraordinary. The city’s people are filled with beauty, literature, and art, and its youth are passionate about crafting poems with high professionalism. They are the reeds and pure rivers, and reading here is a great honor.”

Arabic folk poetry is composed in colloquial language, reflecting the dialects spoken by the general public. Unlike classical Arabic poetry, folk poetry uses everyday language, making it accessible and relatable to audiences across different regions.

Eyad Abdullah Al-Asadi, a poet from Nasiriyah, praised Basra’s deep-rooted poetic heritage. “Reciting popular poetry is rooted in specific geographical worlds, and Basra is one of those magical worlds, like the works of Muhder Al-Halfi, Maan Sabahi, and Said Shabak, great names who left a lasting mark. I am honored to read poetry in Basra’s Al-Tariq Forum,” he said.

Qasim Amin, a member of the Al-Tariq Al-Adabi Forum, assured the audience that each session would continue to feature diverse voices from Basra and other provinces, promising well-rounded events for poetry lovers in Basra.

During the evening, poet and TV host Ali Nour Al-Yasiri was honored for his contributions to folk poetry and his efforts to spotlight emerging poets through his television programs, further highlighting the forum’s commitment to nurturing Iraq’s literary talent.

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