If there’s a country in the world that is perfect for poets, Oman should definitely be at the top of the list. Oman’s rich history and vibrant culture add depth and layers of inspiration for poets. The country’s ancient forts, traditional villages, and archaeological sites provide a tangible connection to the past, allowing poets to tap into the collective memory of a land steeped in stories and legends.
Poets find solace and inspiration amidst the beauty of Oman, allowing their verses to capture the essence of this remarkable land and share it with the world.
Such has been the case for poet and writer Abdullah bin Mohammed al Numani, who launched a collection of poems through his book Traneem, or Hymns in English.
Abdullah shared that the book is a reflection of his thoughts, feelings, and experiences as he went through life and has gone through numerous stages of progress, development, and challenges.
His main hope is that the book will become an inspiration and resonate well with those who are also embarking on their own personal journeys.
Al Numani divided his collection into three chapters. The first chapter collected his patriotic, social, and emotional poems. The second chapter is devoted to the art of Al Razha, while the last chapter is devoted to the art of Taqrood, or the words chanted by the performers during Al Razha and other cultural dances.
Al Numani said that “Traneem” is his first publication, a cathartic experience that reminded him what it was like growing up and admiring not only his culture but the evolution of Oman and the written and spoken word.
“It is a collection of poems that were written in different stages of my life — some crafted during my study days, others while I’m travelling and the others conceptualised and came about by collaborating and corresponding poetic dialogues with other poets,” he shared.
“When you go through the book, you will find a portion where I interacted with other poets. I have correspondence with celebrated poets like Mohammed bin Humaid al Harthy, Mubarak bin Saeed al Fawry, and Saif bin Ali Al-Rahbi and that correspondence was an honour of mine to be included in this collection,” he said.
“There are also poems written when I was still in school. Of course, they went through numerous stages of revision and modification, which is normal after a person grows in style and matures in his thinking,” he shared.
“Poetic dialogues are more evident in the art of Al Razha, and they are of two types: dialogues and correspondences. So you write a poem about Al Razha, and the other poet responds to you after a while,” he said.
“The third chapter is devoted to the art of tweeting — and this chapter branched into three branches, a branch for individual poems, a branch for correspondence, and a branch for dialogues.
Al Numani explained that the poems touching on social topics, when read in-depth, show his personal development and evolution, something that would definitely resonate well in the current times.
Al Numani shared that he hopes to include the book in the Muscat International Book Fair, and he’s working on some collaboration with different agencies, Omani bookshops, and Arab libraries to ensure that the book will have a wider reach.
“I’d love the book to be part of different book fairs, as it is the perfect place where intellectual and cultural discussions take place, and with the right connection, there is also an opportunity to cooperate with different publishing houses.
“I hope that the book will resonate well with readers and those interested in popular poetry. While I do not claim the book to be perfect, it definitely has some great insights into my personal experiences, documenting success and challenges, and is a great addition and tribute to Oman libraries,” Al Numani said.
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