Ibrahim Nagi
(1898-1953)

Ibrahim Nagi was a physician and a prominent poet. He enjoyed wide scale popularity throughout his celebrated poems which were transformed into songs, sung by two great Egyptian singers,Mohamed Abdel Wahab and Om Kalthoum. Abdel Wahab sang a part of his poem "Autumn",while Om Kalthoum sang a national poem "Egypt" and the romantic poem "AI Atlal" (or The Ruins), which was considered by critics as one of the best 20 love poems in the history of Arabic poetry.In fact, Nagi, despite his numerous poems, was known as "AI Atlal Poet".

Nagi was brought-up in a family that had special interests in Arabic and European literature. However,he was graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University but never gave up reading and writing poetry.

In 1934, his first collection of poems called "Behind the Mist" was published,later in 1951 his second collection "Cairo Nights" followed, while the third "Ibe Injured Bird" was published four years after his death.

Nagi was a member of the Apollo Society which was a literary group led by Ahmed Shawqi.

Nevertheless, Nagi was an innovator. He introduced new ways in classicism using new forms and contemporary language that appeals to the readers and themes derived from experiences familiar to them.He used melodious words that emanate from simple expressions.He excelled in the choice of the vocal tunes of words without restricting himself to a certain poetic meter.

Nagi was greatly appreciated by his contemporaries despite the numerous controversial issues among them.Abbas Mahmoud AI Aqqad described him as "the poet of sensitive emotions".

Taha Hussein said about him: "He successed in the choice of words, meanings and techniques.He introduced new meanings that can be said to be magnificent.He is a glorious poet to whom the soul is habituated, the heart is inclined.His readers, sometimes, find him friendly and are entertained by listening to his poems."