Different Readings of Sinbad's Myth in Contemporary Poetry

Myths are inspiring sources for the contemporary Arab poets, from which the Sinbad’s is frequently used. Divers readings of this particular myth have been put forward due to the poets’ moods and the political and social conditions of the time, as a result making Sinbad their own mask. Sometimes Sinbad is in a quest of the invisible to find plain truth and sometimes in search of implements to make new civilization, at times he is exiled due to political and social turbulences while seeking cure for his feeble body. Occasionally, like the mythical Sinbad, he returns successfully from his journey and at times with failure and depression. This paper examines four readings of this myth by Bayati, Siyab, Havi, and Abdul Sabour.