📚 A Poet of Depth and Modernity:
The Poetic Encounter seminar at Diwan Poetry Plaza focused on Egyptian poet Naji Shaib, in a compelling dialogue with poet and critic Amal Salem, as part of the Cairo International Book Fair.

💡 Poetry as an Existential Question:
Amal Salem emphasized that Shaib’s work goes beyond linguistic play or rhetorical display; it is a continuous effort to understand existence and life, exploring the boundaries of meaning and human concerns.

🌟 An Extended Artistic Journey:
Shaib’s poetic journey began in 1960, influenced by his mother who recited poetry, with El-Mahalla El-Kubra remaining a lifelong source of inspiration. His early growth was supported by Al-Basha Khalil Cultural Palace, before moving to Cairo to pursue professional poetry alongside friends like Magdy El Gabry.

🖋️ Experimenting Between Colloquial and Classical Arabic:
Shaib wrote in both colloquial and classical Arabic, pioneering free verse in colloquial when the trend was not yet established. Notable works include:

• Al-Tumī wal Buyūt Al-‘Āliyah

• Sawt Al-Rujoa

• Nuqūsh Idāmiyah (1987)

💔 Poetry and Personal Life:
He reflected on Flowers That Don’t Die on Loved Ones’ Graves after his wife’s passing, marking a shift to classical Arabic and free verse, and The Only Hunting Moment, attempting to write what he wished she could have seen.

📖 Criticism and Challenges:
Shaib highlighted the gap between creative work and literary criticism, noting that serious analysis of colloquial poetry remains rare.

💡 Guidance for New Generations:
He stressed the importance of experiencing metrical poetry before moving to prose and exploring zajal in colloquial poetry, influenced by Abdel Rahman El Abnoudi, Fouad Haddad, Salah Jahin, and Magdy El Gabry for classical poetry.

🔥 Summary:
The “Poetic Encounter” seminar affirmed that true poetic experience requires experimentation, depth, and engagement with human concerns, beyond superficial awards, as creativity is a journey beyond time and geography 🌹✨💭.

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