Arabic Poetry in the American Mahjar

The story of this émigré is the breathings of a spirit and the sway of poetry, flowing forth in a flood of longing for the soil of the homeland!

To this overflow of sensuous delight the author of the book "Arabic Poetry in the American Mahjar," Mr. Wadih Deeb, carries you, bringing forth on his open palms the pearls the poets have cast up along the far shores, spreading them before the reader and surveying what is new and original in them!

The author speaks of the merits of this modern shade of literature, which grew up on the other shore of the world, pointing to the conditions that worked to nourish it; nor does he forget to note the motives that spurred the poets to abandon what their souls clung to most, to soar across the vastness of frontiers!

Among the poets there arose various bonds, with a single aim — poetry and letters — and all of these the author recounts, so that the reader seems to accompany the life of these folk, or rather to live it in the excerpts of their poetry, to feel with them all they felt, and to savor the perfumes of their verse.

It is a new weave in our literature, a radiant touch that we would do well to become acquainted with. Of the qualities of this poetry the writer has said:

"The poetry of the Mahjar is easy to commit to memory, for the sweetness of its music, the softness of its words, and the gentleness of its meanings; it discloses to you the sincere feeling in its author's soul..."

Yes — and such was the author in his analysis and his study: sincere through and through, faithful to the trust of the message placed in his hands!