World Poetry Recital in Malden

Poetry transcends barriers, conveying complex ideas in a lyrical arrangement of words. Written arts like poetry have been famous in many corners and crevices of the world even since ancient times. The World Poetry Recital capitalizes on this, allowing participants to travel mentally through fruitful traditions and their following histories.

The president of the American Association for Arab Women (AAAW), Souad Akib, was a primary contributor in collaboration with others, such as the Marhaba Center. The event was hosted on November 15th at 350 Main Street, right down the road from Malden High School. Each reciter picked out their literary works, ranging from topics of love to political commentaries, totaling eleven languages displayed alphabetically: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish, South African, and Swedish. The poems were separated into three parts, and between each, talented musician Boujmaa Razgui played a traditional Moroccan flute.

Individuals at the gathering were of various ages, races, and religious backgrounds, yet all were entertained. The vast representation truly made the occasion a community affair. “I absolutely loved it; seeing the diverse poems and cultures was great. I especially appreciated the English translations; words mean nothing when you can’t actually understand them,” said Belinay Kaya, a former 2024 graduate of Malden High School. “I really liked it because it reminded me of my home country, Morocco. I even recorded the Arabic parts to show my dad,” continued Salma Lqamar, another 2024 graduate.

As the exhibition concluded, the room broke into a discussion, with audience members dissecting the poems they had just heard while Razgui played music in the background. The World Poetry Recital was both enjoyable and educational, giving us an insight into numerous societies we may have never considered before.

To ensure humanity’s progression, we must be able to break down the barriers that disconnect one another. People often fear things they do not understand; to counter that, we should be open to uncomfortable conversations of differing opinions and perspectives. Local ceremonies like these may not significantly impact the world, but they do affect the folks attending them. In other words, taking things one step at a time does not always give you instant results, but it always proves rewarding in the long run.