Ahmed Matar

Ahmed Mattar (Arabic أحمد مطر, born 1954) is a revolutionary Iraqi poet who has been living in exile for decades, most recently in London.

His poetry is very critical of the Arab rulers, lack of freedoms, the use of torture, clinging to power at all costs. He also laments the general situation of the Arab societies.^[1]

Early life

Mattar was born in Tanoma, a small city southern of Iraq in Basra governance. He is the fourth of ten children. He is married and has three sons and a daughter.^[2]

Poetry

Mattar started composing poetry early in his life when he was fourteen. His first poems were mostly romantic before he turns to choose politics as his main subject. He recited long poems on stage where he actually openly criticized the status quo. This, however, forced him to flee early in his life to Kuwait.

Life in Kuwait and career

He moved to Kuwait at the mid of his twenties where he worked as a cultural editor in Al-Qabas^[3] newspaper. He, nevertheless, continued composing poetry in his own journal before they finally been published in the same newspaper. He then befriended the caricaturist Naji Al Ali,^[4] who also worked for alqabas newspaper. Both artists were on the same pattern.^[5]

Exile

Due to his harsh criticism of Arab status quo and its ideology, Mattar has again had to flee Kuwait joined by his close friend Naji Al Ali, who also had to leave the country because of his caricatures. In 1986, Mater finally settled in London as his last destination in exile.^[6]

On his poetry, Mattar said I didn't intend to make myself a school when I first started writing poetry; I just wanted to say the truth... and I did. I now can assure you that readers can tell my poetry without my name been attached to it.

Poetry in the time of action

In this commentary he made after the Arab Uprisings in 2011, Ahmed Matar speaks eloquently about poetry in the context of action:

"Poetry is not an Arab regime that falls with the death of the ruler. And it's also not an alternative to action. It's an art form whose job is agitating, exposing, and witnessing reality, and aspiring beyond the present. Poetry comes before action. Then poetry catches up. Poetry lights the road, and guides our deeds. Back in the day, Nassr Bin Seyar said, “Indeed, war begins with speech.” In reality, speech surrounds war from its beginning to its end through awareness, instigation, and glorification. Indeed, action needs the influence of sincere speech. Because its absence means filling the space with contradictory speech. And we know that this contradictory speech is always present and active, even while truth exists. So, imagine that the space was entirely void of truth. There is no resistance on the face of earth that would dispense the poet for the fighter. Every living resistance realizes that there is no use for bloodshed without a moral conscience. The history of our people is the greatest witness to the importance of the poet’s role in war. The fighter has always sharpened both his sword and tongue.”^[7]

Ahmed Matar's poetry in translation

Despite his significance and popularity in the Arab world, Ahmed Matar's name and works are not as well known as those of many other Arab poets. Individual efforts of his readers and admirers were made to make his works available to English readers.

Some of his poetry translated to English:

• The Hope الأمل^[8]
• People of exile منفيون^[9]
• The defector المنشق^[10]
• My friend Hassan صاحبي حسن^[11]
• A tear over the dead body of freedom دمعة على جثمان الحرية^[12]
• Takfir and the revolution التكفير و الثورة^[13]
• Even more brutal than execution أقسى من الإعدام^[14]

References