ended, mystical, and elusive piece of language like a poem be translated in the strict sense of the word?: A question that has left translators afraid to answer. How do we make Chaucer understandable in, say, Arabic translation? Would it show Chaucer's original poetry with Arabic equivalents or a modern version of Chaucer? As language is worn out by daily use, a translation of a text becomes a translation of a culture and world vision as well. And the mission becomes even harder at an international gathering of poets from all over the world with different languages and life perspectives. Translation remains a hurdle towards enjoying a variety of world poetry, especially at a prominent gathering of world poets, Jamal Huwaireb, chairman of the recently concluded Dubai International Poetry Festival 2009, told the Saudi Gazette. But translation of poetry goes beyond conventional elements of literal translation as far as ambiguities and mystic speculations are concerned, making it an art of its own, Huwaireb said. “We want to help break that translation barrier,” he said. The organizing committee has called on poet-translators to contribute to the noble cause of making poetry available in many different languages. The festival has also launched the Translator Poet Award which goes to the one who provides an accurate translation of own poems in other languages, including Arabic. With that, Dubai has rightly “earned the title of the world city of poetry,” Huwaireb said. Although the topic of poetry translation would trigger the strongest polemics among literary critics, Moroccan poetess Fatiha Murshid said that she enjoyed poetry recited in the festival in different languages like Chinese without even understanding a word. “I did not understand it, but I felt it,” she told the Saudi Gazette. Poetry for her clings to the consciousness of the feeling regardless of its mere words. “Poetry is like a beautiful painting, you would enjoy looking at and interacting with it in the absence of words,” she said, adding “One would not tread a thorny road to enjoy a poem in a different language. It is the deep-felt interaction with it that enlightens our minds and heart.” The translation of the Khayyam Quatrains from Farsi into Arabic, which was featured at the festival, stands as a living testament to nine years of hard work to make a masterpiece of poetry more accessible to the public without sacrificing its purity and elegance. “I wish I could understand what they're saying,” said Slovenian poet Toma? ?alamun when he was listening to the Nabati poetry soiree of Sheikh Hamadan Bin Muhammad Bin Rashid Al- Maktoum and Sheikh Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum during the festival activities. Murshid and ?alamun are only two of nearly one hundred poets who recited their poetry at the festival. The participating poets in the festival are selected based on their talent and fame, Huwaireb said. “Those poets who are talented, but not known, we have looked for them and brought them here,” he said. “And those who could not make it this year will make in the coming festivals,” he added. The festival has also announced the launch of the World Association of Poets and the Dubai Poetry Award to encourage more world poets to compete in Dubai. The language of poetry is believed to be the language of love and feelings that would bring the world together away from the complications of politics. And that was the vision of Sheikh Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the UAE, said Huwaireb. Dubai is not all about business and investment. It has a long history of producing many poets. “We are just adding up to the literary heritage of our country by hosting such an international festival,” he said. Sharjah, known as a cultural hub in the UAE, is also an emirate of business, he added. The festival was a great chance for world cultures to meet and melt the barriers of differences and consolidate the oneness of mankind, Murshid said. It has also shown the bright aspect of Arab culture and literature, she added.
