The Iraqi poet will remain strong in his presence, faithful in his experience, glowing in his giving, always close to the society that shares its great sadness and small joy.. This is the great Iraqi poet Yahya Al-Samawi presenting to us through these discussions inquiring about the essence of the relationship between him and poetry, in addition to other major issues.

Where are you now after decades of poetry and years of exile? I am now in the meaningless, standing on the hill of anxiety like a palm tree... my root is in a place and my shadow is in another. I wait for the moment my branches meet my roots in Samawah... after Iraq returns to being an oasis of tranquility for all, not as it is now looking like a slaughterhouse or a coffin. After this journey: What did poetry give you? And what did it take? It gave me a clan as wide as the alphabet... it gave me wonderful friends who lit with the lamps of their love the caves of exile and its loneliness... and gave me a borrowed homeland of paper. As for what it took: many things, starting from the teaching profession I loved, passing through the bread of tranquility at my father's table near my mother's oven, and ending with what remained of health.. but I am not regretful. Poetry is the only disease that fills my soul with health. How do you see global transformations? They were in favor of the Northern Hemisphere at the expense of the South; the North is the winner and we in the South are the losers unless we become actors rather than just "reactions." Which is harder: exile or war? Exile may destroy the person, but war destroys the whole homeland. What is your view of the Arabic poetry scene? Poetry's health is from society's health. The nation is in a deteriorating state, reflecting on the arts. But we are a poetic nation, an ummah of eloquence, and poetry will rise when the nation rises. What is the difference between Vagabond (Sa'laka) poetry of the past and the modern era? The old Sa'luk was faithful to a human cause and a defender of morals against unfair wealth distribution. In the era of globalization, there is no real Sa'luk poet, only moral-less beggars. Why are critics neglecting poetry? The reason is in poetry itself; fake poets have corrupted taste and frustrated critics. Nevertheless, the river of criticism has not run dry. Will the novel replace poetry? I read novels more than poetry, but I don't fear for poetry. A beautiful garden has many colors of flowers; no literary genre will replace the other. What do you say about Ghazi Al-Gosaibi leaving poetry for the novel? I will not believe it; Al-Gosaibi is a poet even in his novels. I expect him to surprise us with a new collection. How do you see the Saudi poetic movement? It is a strong creative movement; the Saudi poet is the legitimate heir to Imru' al-Qais and Antarah. Saudi Arabia has great poets and critics today. What remains for poets against the ugliness of the era? They have their dreams which the claws of the globalized wolf will not reach.