The Poem as Exile: Manifestations of Alienation in Arif Al-Saadi’s Diwan “Umruhu al-Maa” (Its Age Is Water)

Abstract

This article explores the phenomenon of alienation as a psychological and philosophical intersection in contemporary literature, with a particular focus on its manifestations in the poetry collection “Its Age Is Water” by Iraqi poet Arif Al-Saadi. The study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the various dimensions of alienation (spatial, social, personal, and existential) as embodied in the diwan’s texts, and how the poet employs language and poetic imagery to depict this complex experience. The article adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, examining selected poetic texts from the diwan to extract the forms of alienation and their interaction with the poet’s artistic style.

The findings reveal that alienation in the diwan transcends mere isolation, reflecting a profound disintegration of individual identity. The homeland transforms into an alien psychological space, society becomes a source of disconnection, and the self fragments, losing its essence. Al-Saadi employs symbols such as the “imaginary homeland” and “the river that swallows souls” to express the collapse of values and the sense of security. The study confirms that alienation is not merely a reflection of external circumstances but a complex existential experience articulated by the poet through rich poetic language, capturing the modern human’s struggle with the loss of identity and meaning.