Basra, A City of Poets

Image (c) Jane Arraf/ The Christian Science Monitor, 2009
"Iraqis on the Shatt al-Arab waterway in Basra dance on a boat on their way to a wedding."

Throughout Basra - both the city itself and the surrounding governorate - poetry, literature, song, and spoken word are esteemed, enjoyed, and encouraged. In every reed coffee-house (mudhif), assemblies often include a poet or singer. In Basra itself, the Basra Writer's Union has a lovely old shanasheel house, where it sponsors a plethora of literary activities. So I, and they, will be honored by our literary contributors, like John Duffy, who has been most generous with his support, sending us to dance along the Shatt Al-Arab in just two weeks! #cmarsh