Lebanese poet and journalist Ounsi al-Hajj who died yesterday aged 77.
Lebanese poet Ounsi al-Hajj, who pioneered the use of free verse in Arabic poetry in the 20th century, died yesterday aged 77, his family said. “His health had deteriorated in recent days. He was suffering from colon cancer and died on Tuesday afternoon,” a relative said. Akl al-Awit, editor of Lebanese daily An-Nahar’s cultural supplement, called the death a “great loss for Arab poetry.” Hajj was a founding member, along with poets Yousef al-Khal and Adonis, of the literary magazine Shaar (Poetry). His first book, published in the magazine in 1960, was the first of free verse poetry in Arabic. Hajj also worked as a journalist.