Omar Abu Risha
Omar Abu-Riche (Arabic: عمر أبو ريشة, 10 April 1910 – 15 July 1990) was an influential Syrian poet known for his pioneering works.
Omar Abou-Richeh عمر أبو ريشة | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 4th Ambassador of Syria to the United States | |
| In office 1961–1964 | |
| Preceded by | Farid Zayn Al-Din |
| Succeeded by | Sabah Qabbani |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 10, 1910 Manbij, Syria |
| Died | July 15, 1990 (aged 80) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Spouse | Mounira Abou-Richeh |
| Children | Chafe Abou-Richeh, Rafif Abou-Richeh Mattar, Rif Abou-Richeh |
| Residence(s) | Beirut, Riyadh |
| Profession | Politician, Poet |
Biography
Abu-Riche was born into a wealthy literary family in Manbij, near Aleppo. He received his educational upbringing in Syria and continued his tertiary studies at the University of Damascus. He also studied at the American University in Beirut in 1931 and later read chemistry at the University of Manchester but returned to Syria in 1932. While initially a fan of Abbasid poetry, he later looked for more independent voices in poetry and considered Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis to be the greatest love poem ever written.[1] His favorite poets were Charles Baudelaire and Edgar Allan Poe.[1]
He wrote the poem, "Khatam-ul-Hub" (The End of Love) and produced literary works and attended to his duties as Librarian of Aleppo, Syria. In 1949, the Syrian government appointed him ambassador to Brazil. As a diplomat until 1964, he was ambassador to Argentina, Chile, India, Austria, and finally the United States.[1]
His works included several volumes of poetry and poetic dramas.[2]
References
- M. M. Badawi (29 January 1976). A Critical Introduction to Modern Arabic Poetry. Cambridge University Press. pp. 172–. ISBN 978-0-521-29023-4. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- "Go Back", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M0r_wH9Lgc
Further reading
- Hafez, Sabry. (19 July 1990). "Obituary: Omar Abu-Riche". The Independent (London), p. 31.
