Poems from the Desert - Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Photo: the blue chic

Coming back from a weekend in Dubai, and with my flight sightly delayed had some extra time to spend on the library section of Dubai's Duty Free Airport...

It was a good opportunity to look for something interesting from a Emirati author and my eyes where dragged into this lovely book... "Poems from the Desert".

This poetry book is written by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai a very busy man, yet as you go trough the book you will find out a very sensible and simple man.

He choose the a old Bedouin form called Nabati poetry to express himself,  a style much appreciated and loved by Gulf Arabs since the 16th century. Nabati poetry is also known as "the people's poetry and compared to classical Arabic Poetry it is much more simple in composition by using a more direct expression with simplicity and spontaneity.

You will find beautiful simple poems written with delicate and poetic references to animals considered beautiful and elegant, elements form nature such as stars, moon, rain, sun that turns on your five senses transforming the reading into a journey of sensations...

While reading he's poems, I felt that you can design HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum portrait as a simple and romantic man with a deep sense of love for his family, passionate about life and with  a contemplative and reflective sense of his national responsibilities as a ruler.

A very interesting book that made me feel more curios about His Highness work as a poet and Nabati poetry. It's definitely something I will explore a little bit more.

Here one of the poems you can find in this book...

IN THE CLOUDS

In a cloud she appeared,
With a scent of beautiful roses.

Suffusing the entire world,
With her presence.

None can exceed her beauty,
It knows no limits.

So many have aced about her:
An antelope adorned with a necklace.

Her eyes captivated avery being,
Who witnessed them and dared to look.

Brought up among soul mates,
In the midst of glory and dignity.

O dear ones, please adorn her path,
With exquisite flowers.

A royal being, whose name is echoed,
By every adoring fawn.