Iconic Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani was honored Monday with four Google Doodles portraying the legendary writer in places that were significant to him, commemorating what would have been his 93rd birthday.
The four doodles, which were designed by Alyssa Winans, were created to evoke "the mood and memories sparked by Qabbani's words," according to Google's statement .
"Touching on recurring themes with effortless grace, Nizar Qabbani's work transports readers to the places and people he loved most. His work is celebrated across the Arab world and beyond, and for good reason."
The Google doodles portray Qabbani in places where he spent some of the most significant periods of his life. The doodle "Jasmine in a Damascus Courtyard" pays homage to his Syrian hometown, which is well-known as the "city of jasmine."
"Moon Hotel in Beirut" pays homage to the Lebanese capital where he set up his publishing house and produced some of his greatest works, while "At Home" portrays Qabbani writing in his house.
"Palm Trees in Iraq" remembers the setting where he met his second wife, and the love of his life, Balqis Al-Rawy. Her tragic death during the Lebanese Civil War was immortalized in his renowned grief-stricken poem "Balqis".
Qabbani, who worked as a Syrian diplomat for many years, traveled the world and moved to several countries throughout his life. In addition to Lebanon and Iraq, he spent time in China, Egypt, Turkey, Spain, Switzerland, France and England, where he died in 1998.
Qabbani is one of the most influential and beloved Arab writers of all time. His poetry touched on timeless universal themes such as love, identity and grief. He also tackled a variety of socio-political and cultural issues, such as feminism and Arab nationalism.
Qabbani's elegantly simple style, prolific skill and undeniable talent contributed immensely to the development of contemporary Arabic poetry, a legacy that hasn't been lost on admiring academics, aspiring writers or loyal readers.