Author Interview with Iraqi Poet Zaki Al-Ali as We Discuss His Newest Poetry Collection, Nirvana
This week I had the privilege of meeting one of the greatest Iraqi poets, Zakariya Abdul-Ali Muhail, known as Zaki Al-Ali. Known for his vertical and modern poetry, Zaki Al-Ali has several poetry collections; however, his book Blue Blood was his first poetry collection translated into English. One of his poems from this collection, entitled "Alzheimer’s," was chosen by the Toronto-based publication Maple Staple Magazine to be featured as one of the best international poems. While Zaki Al-Ali uses poetry as a way to express himself and make sense of life, his poetry has touched the hearts of so many people across the world. In this author interview, I had the opportunity to sit down with this brilliant internationally acclaimed poet to discuss his newest poetry collection (also translated into English), Nirvana.
Author Interview
Where are you from? Tell me a little bit more about your background.
I'm from Iraq. My full name is Zakariya Abdul-Ali Muhail, known as Zaki Al-Ali. I was born in the city of Nasiriyah, Al-Sedinawiya district in southern Iraq.
I studied languages at the Department of Persian.
What first sparked your love for writing?
I loved poetry in my early youth, influenced by my southern social environment, reflecting its images, heritage, and fateful events.
My poetic beginnings were in the vertical form of poetry.
When you’re not writing, what are you doing?
Besides my work as a writer, I have one daughter called Narjes who is 21 years old. I always try to spend my free time with her.
So, tell me about your most recent poetry collection, Nirvana.
Nirvana is a collection of poems published by Crystal Peake Publishing House in the UK.
Transforming my feelings, the contradictions of the human condition, and the psychological transformations we face, I put them all down in the form of ink.
Nirvana is a collection of prose and poems written in separate periods that reflect my vision of the world around me.
I understand your book is written in English and Arabic. Tell me more about your writing process. Do you write your poetry in Arabic first and then translate them after?
My first language is Arabic, and I also write in Arabic. Then the poems are translated into English. Sometimes the translator needs to do a couple of changes with my approval to be able to transfer the soul of the poem to the other language without losing the meaning.
I understand you also have published three other poem books in Arabic, one of which was translated into English, Blue Blood. Tell me more about each of your books and what inspired them.
I don't belong to a particular school of poetry. Rather, I write poetry in all its usual forms. I believe that the poem is the one that determines its poetic form and chooses the form that it prefers to go out with or appear in the ceremony of literature.
Books by Zaki Al-Ali
Diwan: Before Losing Fingers from an Anthem
(Kuwait - Dar Arwaqa for publishing and distribution)
Diwan: Star Dust
(Saudi Arabia- Dar Raqash for publishing and distribution)
(United States- Absolute Author Publishing House)
(UK- Crystal Peake Publishing House)
Follow Internationally Acclaimed Poet Zaki Al-Ali on His Writing Journey
Don't forget to follow along with Zaki Al-Ali's writing journey and keep up with his upcoming releases on social media. His upcoming project Diwan: Two Faces of One Rose is set to be published by the end of this year-- you don't want to miss it!
Here's where you can follow him:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alail00?s=20
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