Nazik Al-Malaika
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Nazik Al-Malaika (August 23, 1922 – 20 June 2007[1]) (Arabic: نازك الملائكة) was an Iraqi female poet and is considered by many to be one of most influential contemporary Iraqi female poets.[citation needed] Al-Malaika is famous as the first Arabic poet to use free verse. [2]
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[edit] Early life and career
Al-Malaika was born in Baghdad to a cultured family. Her mother was also a poet and a father was a teacher. She wrote her first poem at the age of 10.[2]
Al-Malaika graduated in 1944 from the College of Arts in Baghdad and later completed a Master's degree in comparative literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. [2]
[edit] Poet and teacher
Al-Malaika published her first book of poetry "Ashiqat al-Layl" ("Night's Lover") after her graduation.[citation needed] "Shazaya wa Ramad" ("Sparks and Ashes") followed in 1949. She published "Qararat al-Mawja" ("Bottom of the Wave") in 1957 with her final volume "Tree of the Moon" being published in 1968. [3]
Al-Malaika taught at a number of schools and universities, most notably at the University of Mosul. [3]
[edit] Leaving Iraq
Al-Malaika left Iraq in 1970 with her husband Abdel Hadi Mahbooba and family following the rise of the Baath Party to power. She lived in Kuwait until Saddam Hussein invaded that country in 1990. Al-Malaika and her family left for Cairo where she lived for the rest of her life. Towards the end of her life, Al-Malaika suffered from a number of health issues including Parkinson's disease.[2]
She died in Cairo, Egypt in 2007 at the age of 84 [1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b International Herald Tribune
- ^ a b c d AP via The Guardian, "Iraqi Poet Nazik al-Malaika Dies at 85" June 21, 2007
- ^ a b Maquis Who's Who, 2006 "Nazik Al-Malaika" and Guardian Op Cit.
