Emerging Emirati poets reinvent poetic styles

  As part of its centennial celebrations in July, Sharjah Public Libraries (SPL) hosted a literary evening titled ‘Contemporary Poetry’ at the House of Wisdom, Sharjah.

 The event brought together an audience of emerging and aspiring poets and cultural professionals to engage in dialogue around contemporary poetic expression and the evolving role of literature in Emirati society.

 Contemporary poetry and evolving expression

 The evening commenced with a panel discussion titled ‘Horizons of Writers and Poets’, featuring two young poets, Ahmed Bin Sulayem and Meera AlBusmait. The conversation explored how emerging Emirati voices are reimagining poetic expression by drawing on personal memory, cultural identity, and a deliberate departure from conventional forms to forge new creative directions.

 Ahmed Bin Sulayem, known for his free-form poetic style, shared insights into his approach to writing. He said: “I write in complete freedom, refusing to confine myself to any predetermined form or convention.

My words are shaped by the legacy of my heritage, by a deep pride in being Emirati, and by the stories of defiance, adventure, and resilience that echo through our history. I believe poetry is an act of truth-telling, and my truth carries the influence of every book I have ever read, every memory I have lived.”

 On her part, Meera AlBusmait, whose work blends traditional Arabic forms with contemporary English poetics, reflected on the personal nature of her writing journey, saying “My writing began with a memory; an instinctive urge to capture what felt familiar yet was slipping away. As an Emirati woman shaped by a multicultural lens and a love for English literature, I find myself constantly blending the structure of traditional Arabic verse with the rebellion of contemporary Western poetry.

When I face creative blocks, I return to rhyme, rhythm, and the comfort of classical form. But always, I push boundaries. Writing, for me, is a human act; a form of vulnerability and expression no machine can truly replicate. I write to reflect the beauty and complexity of who we are.”

Themes of identity and memory in poetic performance

 The evening concluded with a live poetry recital, during which Ahmed Bin Sulayem and Meera AlBusmait were joined by fellow poets Shahd Thani, Mohammad Al Gaith, and Maryam AlShawab. Their readings explored themes of memory, identity, and belonging, drawing on childhood imagery, the symbolic resonance of the sea, the quiet persistence of cultural tradition, and the role of libraries and librarians.

The gathering highlighted a new generation of Emirati poets who weave local dialects with global influences, reaffirming poetry’s role as both a personal and collective medium of expression.