This document provides a biography and analysis of the Iraqi poet Mater Al-Sha'ar. It notes that he began writing poetry at a young age and used his work to criticize Arab political authorities, forcing him into exile. Mater became famous for his short, impactful poems addressing political and social issues through satire and humor. He regularly mocked and criticized Arab leaders, media, foreign policy, and the public's silence regarding oppression. His ironic poetry tricked readers and left them reflecting on uncomfortable truths.

1. By
Ashwag Alqahtany
Class of Hummer in Arabic-Spring 2013
University of Florida
ashwag88@ufl.edu.com

2.  Born in 1954, in Albasra in the southern region of Iraq.
 began writing poetry when he was 14 years old.
 As most poets, he Started with romantic and love poems.
 Then he soon became interested
in politics and started to recite poems
in public celebrations.
 These poems were very inciting
against the political authorities in Iraq
which caused the police to declare
his name as a Wanted Person.
As a result, he left his home and went
to Kuwait.

3.  In Kuwait, he worked in as a teacher in public schools and
as an editor in a news paper called Alqabas.
 During that time, this news paper started to publish his
poems every day in its editorial page.
 Later on, he became very popular in the Arab world and
his poems seemed to raise the ire of Arabian authorities.
 Again another tragedy happened to the poet because of his
sharp words and high tone , the Kuwaiti government asked
him to leave the country.
 he became an exile from most of the Arab countries
 Then he travelled to London and joined a liberal Arabic
newspaper paper(Alriah) which allowed him to publish his
poems.

4.  He wrote long poems (Qasia’d), but he became famous for
a specific type of poetry called (alwamdhah).
 (and a very short poem, usually not exceeding a few words
or a few lines. It is considered unique for its unified subject
and condensed message that require using a few words and
short sentences.
• This kind of poetry started to became very common lately
in Arabic because it is used to deal with political and social
issues in the public sphere.
• It is also known as the poetry of Laftat(banners) because
these short poems are like the signs or banners that people
raise in demonstration.

5.  In this study, I want to find what are the themes that
Mater uses in his poetry and how does he make use of
them to create mockery or humor in his poems.

6.  The image of the dictator with his spies and his
repressive methods that he uses with his opponents.
the governor decreed that my tongue to be cut
when I sang my poems without asking a permission
the governor also decreed that I should be killed
Because I did not applaud and cheer for him when
he asked

7.  Almost not an Arab leader did escape his satire.
 He criticized their corruption, the lavish style of living
they have while their people are suffering in poverty
and hunger, their policies in Foreign Affairs and their
pace initiatives with Israel.

8.  With tyranny a thief in Europe can become the
boss of a club
or he could be the leader of a gang in America
However in our home where hand cutting is
legislated
the thief becomes the leader of the country

9.  Mater criticized the policy of Western countries and
the US with regard to their support for dictators in the
Arab world.
 Do we need to grieve the death of a prostitute
Because her opponent is the pimp?!
Will we cry for a hunting dog
That was killed by the huntsman?!

10. He also criticized the lack of freedom and liberal
thinking
He said to his wife: hold your tongue .
He told his son: shut up
your voice makes me confused
Don’t say a word
I want to write about
Freedom of expression

11.  Mater not only criticizes Arab leaders but also even the
people themselves for their silence about their ruler
tyranny. For example he usually describes them as herds
who walk behind the shepherd.
A herd in the grazing is walking
Behind the shepherd and in the back there is an obedient dog
 He also even makes fun of himself
I give up as a lamp
who is scared from the blade of a knife

12.  The poet constantly criticizes the media and believes
that it plays a large role in the delay and backwardness
of the nation. It is always depicted as a liar and
hypocrite.
Our media……our execution
It Kicks us
It Insults us
It Spits in our faces
And nothing we can do except to say thanks

13.  After reading his poems, the reader feels that the poet
has just fooled and tricked him with the unexpected
conclusion of the poem.
For example
My land is the land of prophets and messengers
Why they are many , if we are not stupid.

14.  The irony of Mater varied between mocking of honor and
lineage, courage, which are all key components in the Arab
culture.
 One of the sarcastic tool that he keeps using it is describing
the person with different animals that are considered nasty
and mean in the Arabic such as hyena, dog, donkey and
ostrich.
 .The reader may laugh at his poem, but after that he is left
with a bitter feeling since he soon realized that he was
laughing on himself.
 He also create the sense of satire by using excessive praise
and the reverse the scene

15. Our media is moderate
faithless
But very religious
Look how it starts with Koran
and also close with the recitation of Koran
Oblique, No it can’t
the only defective it has is idolatry
humiliation and submission
Lies and slander
And blocking every word Or image
Or whisper that respect humanity