Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA- Prominent Syrian poet Omar al-Farra passed away aged 66 after he suffered a heart attack on Sunday afternoon.
Al-Farra is a Syrian poet who was born in Palmyra, an ancient city in central Syria in 1949 then moved with his family to Homs Governorate. He started writing vernacular poetry when he was 13 and got famous for his exceptional way of reciting his poems and his powerful words and poetry structure.
Al-Farra was famous for his literary activity, taking part in local and international festivals. His poems are loaded with humanitarian overtones and are soaked in his love for his country. They also clearly spell out his support for resistance against occupation, earning him a remarkable local and Arab reputation.
Chairman of the Arab Writers’ Union Hussein Jomaa said that the death of al-Farra is a loss for the Syrian and Arab literature, adding that the suffering of people assumed a centre stage in the late poet’s writings.
His death came unexpectedly as he was in good health, says his son Saif. “But recently, he was grief-stricken over the sad situation in Syria, particularly in Bosra Theater that witnessed some memorable literary events in which he participated.”
ISIS terrorists overran the ancient city of Palmyra, the birthplace of al-Farra, in Homs province few weeks ago, triggering fears that the onslaught will jeopardize the city’s treasure trove of ruins and artefacts, a UNESCO world heritage site.
The body of the deceased will be laid to rest on Monday in Bab al-Saghir cemetery in Damascus.
Manar al-Frieh/Manal
