Under the patronage of the President of the University of Basrah, Professor Dr. Muhand Jawad Kazem, and the Dean of the College of Arts, Professor Dr. Majid Abdul-Hamid Al-Kaabi, and under the supervision of the Assistant Dean for Scientific Affairs and Postgraduate Studies, Professor Dr. Haidar Abdul-Ridha Al-Tamimi, and the Head of the Translation Department, Professor Zainab Sami Houl, the Poetry Festivals Committee of the English Language and Translation Departments at the College of Arts, University of Basra, presented its first poetry festival entitled “Poetic Breezes” on Wednesday, 17/12/2025, at the Grand Hall of the College of Arts (theatre).

It is worth noting that this festival represents the first product of this committee, which was formed in the academic year 2025–2026. The committee is headed and generally supervised by the Head of the Translation Department; from the English Language Department, Lecturer Dr. Samer Abdul-Karim Nasser served as preparer and theatrical and artistic director; Mr. Mahdi Moayed Mohammed acted as coordinator of music and sound effects; and a constellation of students from the English Language and Translation Departments participated in the performances. Photography, montage, and visual direction of the festival were carried out by Mr. Salah Abdul-Mahdi Abdullah and Mr. Ali Akbar Ahmed Hassoun from the College Media Unit, while the festival was presented by Assistant Lecturer Tamara Hussein Mahdi from the Translation Department.

This festival is considered a link in a chain of ongoing scientific and artistic creativity by the same committee, originally formed last year as the Student Theatre Committee upon the guidance of the Dean of the College. That committee previously presented the play “Macbeth”, followed by “Hamlet” in the current year. The committee’s reformation under its second name, the Poetry Festivals Committee, and the organization of its first poetry festival constituted a colorful blend of a theatrical performance prepared by Dr. Samer entitled “Glade: Marj”, which opened the festival, along with original and translated poems recited by students in both English and Arabic—serving as a complementary step to the production of earlier dramatic works.

The aforementioned play included riddles presented to the audience to uncover the true identity of the head of a department working at a foreign university, concealed behind the visible character of Aristotle before the audience. The character then offered advice to the world to live in peace without conflict, emphasizing that we all belong to a single component—humanity. This message was conveyed after student actors embodied a group of scientific, historical, and intellectual symbols in a coherent philosophical style that invited the audience to unravel those riddles.

The festival was attended by numerous literary figures and prominent social personalities from within and outside the university, as well as a group of critics, thinkers, faculty members, students, and large numbers of the general public.

The festival was opened by the Dean of the College with a speech highlighting its importance in encouraging students to present such activities on the theatre stage. He praised the efforts exerted by the committee to accomplish and ensure the success of this work, as well as the students’ performances in acting and poetry. The festival concluded with a word of thanks, appreciation, and commendation from the festival committee to all those who contributed to its success, beginning with the College Deanship for its continuous support of these activities, and extending to all staff who took part, including those responsible for photography, presentation, and costume design.