Osama Bin Laden: Terrorist and Poet

September 28, 2008

A terrorist mastermind and a skilled poet do not usually come together in the same sentence, especially not when the character in question is the infamous Osama Bin Laden. Still further he was once a popular wedding raconteur giving recitals during ceremonies in public and private spheres.

Next week some of Bin Laden’s poetry will be published in the academic publication, ‘Language and Communications Journal‘. Professor Flagg Miller of the University of California, an Arabic studies academic discovered the recitings on tapes found in the terrorist mastermind’s Afghanistan compound after the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Millar said the recordings were passed around from person to person rather like pop songs are passed amongst teenagers. The professor’s analysis of the tapes shows Saudi-born Bin Laden to be a skilled poet who weaves mystical references as well as jihadist imagery into his verse, reciting centuries old verses alongside more current mujahideen-era work.

“[The readings] were sometimes given to large audiences when he was recruiting for jihad in Afghanistan… and other times they were delivered at weddings, or to smaller audiences, possibly in private homes,”

Many scholars have protested the upcoming publication fearing that the work has only become of interest due to the notoriety of its author and gives him an unfair forum. However Millar disagrees and believes Bin Laden to be a talented wordsmith with his own unique and distinctive style.

“They also show his evolution from a relatively unpolished Muslim reformer, orator and jihad recruiter to his current persona, in which he attempts to position himself as an important intellectual and political voice on international affairs.”

If alive, Bin Laden would almost certainly still be writing poetry, which is central to the oral traditions of his tribal culture.

“Poetry is part of the oral tradition in the Arab world, which Bin Laden uses to tap into the cultural orientation, the history and the ethics of Islam,” Millar said.

The dozen tapes are currently being refined and digitised at Yale University in the United States and public access is expected to be granted by 2010.

Posted by Edward | Filed Under Poetry News & Articles | 3 Comments 

Poetry Prompt 1

July 13, 2008



Welcome to the very first ‘Pen Me A Poem’ poetry prompt!

As Leonard Bernstein once said, “Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time… The wait is simply too long”. It is for this precise reason that I have decided to start a weekly prompt for devotees and practitioners of poetry and verse. Each Friday at approximately 18:00 (London time) I will provide an inspiring and stimulating cue from which you can then create your very own poem or short poetic prose. When you feel it is ready for other people to read then copy and paste the link in the comment section of the individual ‘Poetry Prompt’ post.

This can only work if other writers and readers visit these websites and blogs which the authors kindly provide links to and leave comments as to what they thought of the work and related general feedback.

Following on from this, every Thursday I will complete a round-up of my favourite poems and prose from the links provided and publish them with a short description and reasons for finding them particularly appealing, in a brand new post.

This is not a competition or popularity contest but merely a place where poets and readers alike can assemble and enjoy the fruits of each other’s work. See this as an ideal environment in which to creatively express such things as dreams, hopes, inner feelings, loves, humour, tragedy, personal events and above all, a place to make new contacts and relationships with people who share similar passions.

Relax, sit down, read through some poetry, then try writing some of your own. There are no restrictions or obligations whatsoever apart from trying to keep to the basic flavour of the weekly prompt given. Anyone, anywhere in the world, is welcome to participate.

As this week is the first and one that will also finish rather sooner than the following prompts, the subject matter is therefore any theme you so wish. Show poems from your present collection or write a new one especially. Let us share and experience your poetry as a group but above all, enjoy your visits and interactions with myself and others at ‘Pen Me A Poem’.

A round-up of this prompt will be published on Thursday 17th July.
The 2nd prompt will begin on Friday 18th July.

Posted by Edward | Filed Under Weekly Poetry Prompt | 22 Comments