winner Poetry
Forth Circle 1994-1995

• Born in Iraq 1926
• Joined the High teacher’s Institute and graduated in 1950. Holds a BA in Arabic Language & Literature
• Issued his first poetry book (Angels & Satans) on 1950
• Taught in Iraqi Secondary Schools, published his second poetry book (smashed pitchers) in 1954 and took part in editing the “New Culture” magazine. He was dismissed from his job upon Iraq’s joining Baghdad’s Tripartite Pact. Then arrested and spent some time in Saeediah imprisonment camp, released later on to leave Iraq for Damascus, then to Beirut, and finally to Cairo where he worked as a sub-editor in Al Jomhouria Paper 1956.
• In 1959 he was appointed Cultural Attaché in Iraq’s Embassy in Moscow.
• Left the Embassy in 1961 to become a professor with Moscow University.
• Issued his poetry play (Trial In Nisapur) In 1979 he was appointed as Cultural Attaché in Iraq’s Embassy in Madrid.

Decision of the General Secretariat

The Committee decided to grant the poetry award to Abdul Wahhab Al Bayati because of his versatile poems which gave him considerable influence over Arab contemporary life. He stood by his convictions and endeavoured to achieve change, liberation and freedom. Among his best achievements, Al Bayati managed to broaden the scope of poetry, abandoning its existing narrow path and opening up avenues. His tools were a language so rich, yet simple, a capability to weld together the language of ideology with that of feeling, diversified rhythms and harmony, a daring usage of heritage, historic, legendary and rituals elements, dialogues and a multitude of voices. All this made his poetry very popular.

 Famous Works

• Angels & Satans
• Smashed Pitchers
• Poetry In Exile
• Aragon, The Poet Of Resistance (With Ahmed Moosa)
• Diary of a Professional Politician
• Twenty Poems From Berlin
• Words That Do Not Die
• Love Poems At Theworld’s Seven Gates
• Love Under Rain (Arabic & English)
• Aisha’a Garden

 Died on 3/8/1999