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. T