Waiting for Dawn

I waited until dawn revealed itself to those with two eyes, and the white thread became distinct from the black thread, so that the statement could be praised among people who were exhausted by the darkness of the night. Time continues to turn us around until our soft power has become prey to every greedy predator.

Bitter Reality

I write this article with tears flowing from my eyes over a bitter reality and an even more dismal state; caught between a critic who bears a grudge and a poet seeking a title, which is his right; for the arena is vast, and what has transpired in this program deviates from the framework of objective criticism and leads us into a state of confusion that does not belittle Egypt until someone comes along to bestow upon it a title it has held since the time of the Prince of Poets, Shawqi Pasha; a title that once made it proud and dazzling among its peers, as poetry was crowned with a royal emblem, and delegations from the East came to pledge allegiance and affirm it!

Historical Gathering

Mohammad Ishaaf Al-Nashashibi, Mohammad Kurd Ali, Khalil Mutran, Ameen Al-Husseini, and Hafez Ibrahim, all adorned the Royal Opera House with this gathering! However, throughout the history of Arabic literature, no poet has been recorded with the title of prince, nor has any poet sought it. Even Al-Mutanabbi was satisfied to be known as the poet of the prince, which is no trivial title!

Absurd Voting Process

I am not one to raise a clamor in this field; the title of prince cannot be awarded by public votes or borrowed praise. We are in an absurd scene urging followers to participate in a voting process akin to major contest programs, which is far removed from the essence of true art!

Criticism of Shawqi's Title

In the past, both Al-Aqqad and Taha Hussein criticized Shawqi's title of Prince of Poets; they lived to seize opportunities to undermine him and lay claim to that degree, yet it did not come to them either desired or feared, and thus the title remained with Shawqi, in a poetry that no one else has been crowned with—no Mutran, nor Hafez.

Deserving Poets

If anyone were deserving of ascending that throne or being adorned with that crown, it would be more fitting for Muhammad Mahdi Al-Jawahiri, or Omar Abu Risha, or Al-Bardouni; the record is rich, and the list of creative talents stretches endlessly.

Reliance on Song

I wonder if any poet can still rely on song, having been pushed aside by critics brought in as guardians of art under patrons who shower them with counted coins; what kind of gathering would approve of this?

Lack of Recognition

It is astonishing that the mother university and the most prestigious college have not known their poet except by hearing of him through a loud screen, and it leaves one wondering and pondering how the poet is in his ivory tower and has been accused in his lexicon, while claiming exaltation and how precious his expressions are!

Scene of Proclamation

I recall the scene of Shawqi being proclaimed Prince of Poets and how the literati raised their pens in salute, and delegations came one after another to the protected land bearing verses of praise and tokens of love in their noble caravans, every precious word; they were welcomed by Hafez the bard, the brilliant Mutran, and others among those whose gatherings are held and crowns are adorned; Shawqi was claimed as prince, and it was the greatest literary event, and we still see him as a prince without the king's scepter, and a bard flourishing in the vast realm of expression!

National Pride

Would the English be satisfied with a poet contesting Shakespeare for his title? Or the Germans with anyone other than Goethe for his position?

Cultural Integrity

Or do we find ourselves walking in a vague and closed circle, scooping seawater into our mouths when we had the pure Nile as our sweet source? Do we see every previous favor as something to be snatched from us while they wish to mislead regarding what is ours and the source of our pride?

Embracing Literature

For Arabic in Egypt is the gathering of the immortal and the home of the letter 'Dhad', free from repulsive regionalism and disgusting ethnocentrism; let it be open to all those who seek literature and eloquence, provided we do not contest others for the praise awarded by history and the distinction of its speakers. Shawqi, prince, held the title of prince, and beyond it, the aspirations of the aspiring fall short, and the avid seekers falter.

Conclusion

Let the field go; you will not be able to grasp its steeds nor hold onto their reins!