The First Free Verse Experiences in Modern Arabic Literature

The usage of the term “free verse” is perhaps the most controversial issue after Jahiliyyah’s poetry in the history of Arabic poetry. The primary discussion topics in this art revolve around who used the first free verse in his/her poetry, the ideal sample was given by whom and what should we call this form. First, the blank verse and the prose poetry, which are the pioneering literary studies to prepare using free verse, are given in terms of creating a basic in understanding of modern Arabic poetry in this article, with the leaders’ names who revealed significant studies in their field. And then, Ahmed Zaki Abu Shadi, Ali Ahmad Bakathir, Louis Awad who can be qualified as important milestones in the transition to the free verse were examined under separate headings. Then, Bedr Şâkir es-Seyyâb and Nâzik elMelâ’ike who revealed the most significant studies in their field and their poems that are alleged as “the first free verse” were investigated. Finally, the debates on the issues regarding the studies in this field with respect to the desire to be the pioneers and their efforts to give a name to the works are mentioned.