Writer: Nijar Kabbani Translation: Abul Hasan Jarjis Nizar Qabbani (1923-1998) was a highly influential Syrian poet, diplomat, and publisher, widely regarded as Syria's national poet and one of the most celebrated contemporary poets in the Arab world. He is often referred to as the Arab world's greatest love poet. He is noted for breaking away from traditional, complex Arabic poetic styles, opting instead for a simpler, more accessible language that mirrored everyday Syrian speech.