Saif Al Manei was born to be a poet. During sixth grade at school, the seeds of poetry began germinating in his heart.
“My father used to buy me short stories, magazines and poems. He would encourage me to read them,” says the 40-year-old father of three, who lives in Al Ain.
As a youngster, Al Manei was not into reading, but eventually something caught his attention.
“I came across stories related to nature, [the] past, life and heritage,” he says. “Each story left me with a positive message; a message of wisdom.”
That’s when he began transforming his thoughts into poems, although he was more inspired to write in English than Arabic.
“Through English poems, I wanted to share our culture and rich heritage with other nationalities,” he says.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. During high school, Al Manei’s dream of becoming a poet almost came crashing down when one of his professors degraded his skills.
“I still remember the day when he looked down on my work and told me not to waste time on poetry – he believed it would not benefit me,” he says. “But my father pushed me and believed in my abilities. I didn’t stop writing since then.”
His original work has a powerful sense of patriotism and love for the homeland. One poem says: “A few hours into the light, we take up the challenge, reciting romantic poems in front of the firelight wood. We graduate from the school of life, but me, I am a master of the desert’s golden sand.”
Al Manei says that some of his poetic themes were derived from family gatherings. “While growing, it was a family custom to sit in the majlis and listen to elders speaking about the past and the present. I extracted so much knowledge just by sitting there.”
To Al Manei, the older generation is a living archive, and their story narration has helped him conjure up ideas and produce more than 100 poems. His next ambition is to have his collection of work published.
Where is your favourite place to write poetry?
I prefer complete solitude when writing. Al Ain sets the perfect scenery to sharpen my pencil and begin writing.
How often do you write?
It depends on my mood. If, while sitting in a coffee shop, I happen to stumble upon a scenario, I would pick up my pen and start writing about that incident.
What traditional food would you recommend to your foreign friends?
Margooga, which is a mix of wheat flour and Arabian bread. It contains protein and carbohydrate. Its taste is unheard of in the Western cuisine. Also, batheetha, which is a date-paste crumble.
What are your favourite cities in the world?
I would have to say Abu Dhabi [pictured] and Dubai.
If you could invite two poets to dinner, who would they be?
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid [Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai] and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed [Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces].
How can poets expand their themes?
Improve your social life. Your interaction with other nationalities will be a bonus.
What’s your advice to people who stop chasing their dream after failure?
You’re bound to face obstacles in any pursuit. But don’t stop; instead continue your journey with a comma. Imagine yourself sinking in the sea, trying to find a way to survive.
Who are your favourite modern Arab singers?
Hussain Al Jassmi, Mehad Hamad [pictured] and Eida Al Menhali.
Who are your favourite poets?
Seamus Heaney [pictured], W B Yeats and K Aneva. They helped me immensely with the rhythm and style of writing. I would go back to their work to see how they stitch their words together to make it flow. As for Arabs, Al Mutanabbi, Imam Al Shafi’i and Abu Firas Al Hamdani. They’re so eloquent, and their use of language is brilliant; something modern poetry lacks.
aalhameli@thenational.ae
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