Transreading Middle Eastern Poetry: Mid 20th Century to the Present Day
Get inspired in this survey of contemporary Middle Eastern poetry.
Before all else, a note on the sociological category that frames this course: this framing can be seen as recapitulating a Western gaze – a habit to define Middle Eastern art by its geopolitical context, rather than its merit, its content, its aesthetics. To be clear, this course will by no means depoliticize the work of the poets who write from a strong political point of view. It will, however, problematize the homogenizing umbrella term “Middle Eastern” by demonstrating the vast variability of style, content, and philosophy amongst the region’s poets.
The goal of this course is to delight in, and learn from, the beauty and craftsmanship of the poems we’ll read. The course will be structured chronologically, meaning that we will also study the historic and aesthetic contexts in which the poets have written. Some questions we might explore: Who is deviating from their culture’s classical poetic forms and who is incorporating those traditions into the contemporary moment? What is the significance of these deviations and integrations? How does the region’s shift into the Modern era resonate with other poetic movements across the globe? How, in our own poetry practices, might we grapple with history, both aesthetically and thematically?
This survey will mostly comprise poems translated into English. We will read poets such as Forough Farrokhzad, Mahmoud Darwish, Joyce Mansour, Nima Yooshij, Ahmad Shamlou, Samer Abu Hawwash, Nadia Anjuman, Ibrahim Nasrallah, Adonis, Saadi Youssef, Fadwa Tuqan, Muthaffar al-Nawab, Nazik Al-Malaika, Olivia Elias and many others.
As we read through these poets and write our own poems inspired by them, we will also think through what it means to read poetry in translation. What is the work of the translator? What becomes of the original when it is translated into English? And how can we responsibly read works in translation while honouring their origins?
5 fortnightly sessions over 10 weeks, starting 8 October 2026. No live chats. Suitable for UK & International students.
Concessions & Accessibility
To apply for a concession rate, please send relevant documentation showing your eligibility for one of our concessions to [email protected]. Conditions of eligibility are detailed here. If you have any questions or wish to be added to the waiting list of a sold-out course, please email [email protected].
What to Expect
Please check the left hand side of this page for information on how this course works in practice, under the heading ‘Course Style‘. If you’re unsure as to what any of the terms there mean, or if this course is a good fit for you, please visit our What to Expect page which includes some further information on how our courses function.
Image credit: @Rumeysa Demir
About Roz Shayan Naimi 
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Roz Shayan Naimi is a poet, translator, and editor based in New York. She received an MFA from Columbia University in poetry and literary translation. She is currently translating the complete works of Iranian modernist poet Mina Assadi, and is an editor at World Poetry Books. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.
"I feel encouraged to be braver with what I write because I feel that I am in a safe space."
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