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Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry Middle Eastern poetry dates from the 6th century but like most cultures, oral poetry goes back even further. Poetry of this genre encompasses verse from the nomads of the Sahara, to the elaborate courts of Persia and the Ottoman Empire. Middle Eastern poetry includes Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, Pashwan and other languages and dialects extending south into northern Africa and East into Moorish Spain. Most early Middle Eastern literature is in verse, prose came much later. The pre-Islamic poet or sha'ir served as historian, prophet and tribal cheerleader. The sha'ir had a high status and was considered to have a special kind of knowledge which sometimes was thought to be magical. The poet began as a rawi or assistant poet to the sha'ir. The job of the rawi was to memorize the poems not only of the sha'ir but of other poets also and recite them in performance with explanation and sometimes with enhancements. Versatility and spontaneity were the hallmarks of the Middle Eastern poet, they were often called upon to recite or improvise. Sometime there would be a duel of words between poets, verse created on the spot and used as an attack. Bedouin poets sharing the stark realities of life in verse around the campfire gave way to court poets of Arabia and Persia who wrote of love and a more idealistic existence; it was in the courts that the ghazal was created. When Islam emerged, the early poems were considered a threat or distraction and therefore were somewhat shunned for many years. The sha'ir was too closely connected to secular pleasures and religions before Islam and therefore the Koran singled out the role of the poet for criticism. However, many early poems were preserved for their history and scholarship, the memorization and study of which ironically set the table for the study of the Koran. Ancient Middle Eastern poetry is traditionally grouped in collections arranged by poet, tribe or topic. Often the poetry is untitled and is recognized by its first line. Many ancient verse forms are mono-rhymed and metered. Although there are distinct strophic patterns many of the verse forms might fall under the heading of meter rather than verse forms. Lines are often broken into hemistiches. The Waterwheel by Rumi (1207-1273) translated by Coleman Barks Stay together, friends. Don't scatter and sleep. Our friendship is made of being awake. The waterwheel accepts water and turns and gives it away, Weeping. That way it stays in the garden, whereas another roundness rolls through a dry riverbed looking for what it thinks it wants. Stay here, quivering with each moment like a drop of mercury. Basit Beit Beher Ghazal Hamd Hazaj Hijv Kafi Madah Manqabat Landay Marisya or Marsi Masnavi or Mathnwani Misr'a Musaddas Mutagarib Muwashsha or girdle poem Naat Nazm Qataa Qasida Rajaz Ramal Rubai, Rubaiyat Shair Sher Tapa Tawil Urjuza Vaasokht wafir Zajal