The closing ceremony of the 18th "Journalists' Poetry Award" was held

According to Iran-Tarna Poetry News Agency, the closing ceremony of the 18th Journalists' Poetry Award, hosted by Alireza Bahrami, secretary of the Poetry Book of the Year Award chosen by journalists, was held at the Philosophy Café in the presence of a group of poets and cultural figures.

Alireza Bahrami stated that this poetry event has been independently organized for eighteen years by a group of poets and journalists, maintaining simplicity. Like previous years, the award was presented in three main categories: Poetry Book of the Year, Introducing Unpublished Poets, and Honoring a Lifetime of Poetry Achievement.

Different Sections of the Journalists' Poetry Award:

Poetry Book of the Year: This is the main category of the award, given to the best poetry books of the year in the field of literature.

Introducing Unpublished Poets: In this section, poets who have not yet published a book but whose works are sufficient for a poetry book are introduced. This section helps identify and introduce new poetic talents from across the country to the media, poetry institutions, and the poetry community.

Honoring Poetry Activists: In this section, prominent figures in the field of poetry are honored. This year, Mohammad-Ali Bahmani was honored for half a century of poetic activity. Other individuals honored in previous years include Simin Behbahani, Houshang Ebtehaj, Maftoon Amini, Mohammad-Ali Sepanlou, Javad Mojabi, AliBaba-Chahi, and Mohammad-Baqer Kalahi Ahari.

Mohammad-Ali Bahmani: Supporter of Young and New Generation Poets

Samaneh Nayini, an active media and poetry figure, highlighted Mohammad-Ali Bahmani's valuable qualities. Nayini expressed happiness at Bahmani's presence, considering his friendship, honesty, and wide-ranging sincerity his most important traits. She described Bahmani's poems as having a simple yet profound language with innovative ideas and fluid rhythm, ideal for enthusiasts of metric poetry. Nayini also mentioned Bahmani's impact on contemporary poetry and his good relationship with the current generation of poets.

Samaneh Nayini identified Hossein Manzavi, Simin Behbahani, and Mohammad-Ali Bahmani as influential in the evolution of the ghazal after Nima. She emphasized that these great poets crossed the bridge that the Niestani poets built, presenting us with contemporary ghazals and reminding us of a new way to use modern words in modern language.

In this context, maintaining independence in poetic thought without succumbing to dominant pressures is another commendable aspect of Bahmani's influence on today's poetry. Another important aspect is Bahmani's presence alongside young and contemporary poets, offering many benefits and insights to the new generation of poets.

In the end, his humility was illustrated by the final couplet of one of his poems: "The essence of a roaring poem in the silence taught me to become Bahmani," Abduljabbar Kakaei said in this session about Mohammad-Ali Bahmani: "If you want to have Bahmani's popularity, be like your poems. Bahmani is like his poems."

Ismail Amini also stated: "With all his literary knowledge, Mohammad-Ali Bahmani is an ordinary person, and we need such ordinary people in our society. He is compatible with new ideas and generations."

Hamidreza Shekarsari noted: "Changes in literary discourse happen faster in our time. Despite his mastery of traditional poetry, Bahmani played a modern role in ghazals with his vocabulary range, poetic space, and unique combinations."

At the end of the ceremony, Mohammad-Ali Bahmani recited a short poem and Alireza Bahrami honored him.

Winners of the 18th Journalists' Poetry Book of the Year Award

Lifetime Poetry Achievement Award:

• Honoring Mohammad-Ali Bahmani for over 70 years of poetry publication and more than half a century of publishing poetry books, making significant contributions to the evolution of ghazal and song lyrics.

Poetry Book of the Year:

• With appreciation to Rasoul Simia (The Etiquette of Splitting at My Father Zabih’s House), Seyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi (Sharaabsalgi), and Nima Memarian (Self-Liberation)

Winner:

• "The Fog Cleaning the Future" by Sabir Saadi Pour

Special Section for Unpublished Poets:

• First Place: Razieh Esmaeili from Isfahan
• Joint Second Place: Mahdieh Rashidi from Babol, Solmaz Nemati from Ardabil, and Farad Ghorbani from Mashhad
• Third Place: Mojtaba Houshyar Mahboub from Karaj

Additional Research Section on Poetry:

• (This year's theme: Women's Poetry in Iran)
• Research Article: "Existence and Necessity of Femininity in Poetry" by Sara Naser Nasir, commendable
• Research Book: "Rooted Rebellion / A Stylistic Study of Contemporary Women's Poetry" by Golaleh Honari, commendable

Judging Panel for the 18th Journalists' Poetry Book of the Year Award:

• Saeed Eslamzadeh, Alireza Bahrami, Amirshahab Razavian, Pourya Soori, Shahab Shahrazad, Abbas Karimi Abbasi, Hassan Goharpour, Mohammad Moftahi, and Samaneh Naeini

Poets and cultural activists such as Qotbeddin Sadeqi, Reza Shalbafan, Omid Sabbagh Nou, Pourya Pelikan, Atefeh Mivehchi, Elaheh Kashani, Saeed Zare Mohammad, Fereshteh Forqani, Hayedeh Hadavi, Ali Shahidi, Saeed Eslamzadeh, Pedram Nazari, Niloufar Bakhtiari, Afsaneh Hassanieh, Mina Modir Sanei, Ehsan Mahsouri, Mohammad Reza Mirzaei, Azadeh Hashemi, Amir Fallah, Mojtaba Houshyar Mahboub, Mohammad Javad Kharazi Fard, Hossein Namjou, Nima Memarian, Rasoul Simia, Keyvan Golzarnia, Samira Zavvareh, Parisa Arab, Saeed Fallah Far, Javad Labkhand Azar, Sina Salimi, Seyed Mohammad Tabatabaei, and other esteemed guests attended this event.

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