Egyptians Who Took Explicit Poetry to a Whole New Level

This list of poets show how freely some Egyptian poets used language. These poets caused huge controversy through their use of language. The below quotes contain explicit language and sexual imagery. The purpose of these poems is to shock the audience and deliver strong social messages.

 

 

Naguib Sorour

 

 

Back in the 2000s, Sorour wrote a book called Kossomeyyat. The book explores the corruption of the Media industry in Egypt. He attacks directors and actors for their invaluable productions. In these lines he is calling people to concentrate on the true meaning behind things, and cusses directors who misuse materials and actors calling them “perverts” and “pimps”.

 

 

 

Ahmed Fouad Negm

 

 

Negm gained huge popularity for his socialist interests, especially during the years of the revolution. He started writing in the 60s, and has only died recently. In the lines below, Negm mocks authority and its fear of the population, he uses a pun in Arabic that means both “something” and “dick.”

 

 

 

Ahmed Al-Tahan

 

 

Al-Tahan is famous for his elegy (sad poem) for Zeinab, his friend who committed suicide two years ago. In his spoken-word poem “Al-Lawlab” he satirizes overpopulated Egypt, and blames overpopulation on the failure of contraceptive method:

 

 

 

Mostafa Ibrahim

 

 

Famous for his book ALMANIFISTO, he sarcastically explores the hardships of being an Egyptian. He started writing recently, inspired by the revolution and other contemporary events. He shows the dilemma of contemporary Egypt, and the phenomenon of identity crisis. In these lines he plays on a pun that implies that Egypt is as bitter as medicine, and as painful as injections (or sodomy as indirectly implied).

 

 

 

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