Literary supplement of Al Maghrib
There are two types of literary men in Morocco today:
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The first type uses a style that is old. Even so they are always able to distinguish the scattered elements of the universe surrounding them. They pay much attention to what they perceive, much in love with their profession for it is the only one that they can imagine for themselves. Their literary works, if one can call them that, are assembly like products. They are motivated by the desire for profit revealing a predatory soul with a mercantile mindset. Their talent is limited to the composition of a few verses of poetry to extoll the virtues of a notable or to solicit the generosity of an important dignitary likely to fulfill their needs.This talent is manifested in all occasions be they for special circumstances or none at all.
Their poems, qasa-id in Arabic (a name used originally by the ancients for their poetry), use the same poetic meter for the same purpose; namely to sing praises and to shower a benefactor with a concert of compliments or to express deep sorrow in regret of his loss. These qasa-id represent neither the everlasting works of the ancients nor the thriving ones of modern poets. They are the continuation of an era of regression and decadence where poetry remained stagnant and where their poets' sole wish is to not be bothered from slumber.
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The second group consists of literary men who have barely reached a reasoned age but whose hearts do not throb to the rhythm of youth. Their profession has nothing to do with the exuberant and sensitive call of the heart or with the dreams of people their age. They are content with not much more than a piece of bread and they are satisfied with the wretched conditions surrounding them on all corners. They give themselves up to the whims of fate and submit to all influences that keep them from moving forwards. These men are still young but appear decrepit; with no hope to spur them on and seem entombed, body and soul.
Perhaps I will show too much frankness when I say without any hesitation that the young Moroccan is not born to be a man of letters to take head on the task of literature's call. Moreover he does all he can to turn away from the world of literature by dedicating to it no more than a handful of hours of his life. Moroccan youth has become detached through diversion. It has distanced itself from the literary world in the pursuit of a thousand and one fixations all of which obey one course; one that is of a very narrow mindset.
After nourishing a hint of hope in the dawn of his schooling, today's youth aspires and reaches a level that only allows them to earn a few dribbles here and a few clinks there of money. So they find themselves no better than the common person, subjugated to the iron rule of stagnation and ignorance. These two scourges finally overwhelm their alertness to transform them into phantoms that haunt the streets in search of sustenance. They are always doomed to failure which rises up before them like an impassable barrier.
Young Moroccans have distanced themselves from great literature or rather, they have been turned off to it by an unhealthy environment. One that can't fail to contaminate them to such an extent that they become unaware of what they do or the consequences of their actions. Corrupted morals hinder their progress. These kill the soul and transform the human entity to that of an animal; awakening its worst instincts and provoking its most base behavior. Our youth are unable to rid themselves of these behaviors and reactions as their education was not founded on a solid base. Their upbringing was superficial. The lessons of literature were not fully grasped so they could understand that there is a much better life to live than theirs. A fresher air that stimulates better feelings than the stifling one of their struggles.
For these reasons today's youth can not find among their rank a literary person who has the ambition to overcome the steel barriers that rise between him and enlightenment. There is not much difference between an adult who resents literature and a young person who only shows occasional interest. Neither one meets the criteria for modern literature which takes the pleasures of the mind seriously and considers these as important in the structuring of a new world which provides a privileged place for good upbringing and great literature.
May the man of letters who is not too young think about this new world and attempt to follow its undercurrents. If he succeeds, his literary work will endure and the echo of his voice will not fade. May the man of letters who is young cast a bright eye on those grand horizons which promise freedom to all who join their voices for a real Moroccan renaissance and who appreciate the proper value of their mission.
