The Moroccan poet living in the UAE, Meriem Kouis, strives to use words as a link between faraway places. Her poems take the reader from the spirit of the desert she comes from to the cityscapes that have influenced her mind, between the deep Moroccan heritage and the wide Emirati influence.
Meriem Kouis, a renowned Moroccan poet, confidently celebrates her Saharan background from the city of Guelmim. In an interview, she beautifully conveyed her strong bond with her origins, saying, «I am proud of my Saharan heritage because of the historical, cultural, and spiritual significance it holds. The desert is not just a physical landscape but a lasting memory, a distinct rhythm that gives life to language, providing it with clarity and breadth.»
Even though her early years and studies took place in several Moroccan cities away from the southern deserts, this journey enabled her to develop a dual experience, merging the essence of the desert with the energy of city life.
I have spent time in places that instill patience and a sense of vastness, as well as cities that encourage motion and variety. This blend has turned into a source of depth for both my personal and artistic self.
Meriem Kouis has an impressive educational background, including a Master’s in Arabic literature, a computer programming certification from France, and coursework in public law. This diverse combination has influenced her view that «creativity and science are not at odds; instead, they work together to develop an open and well-rounded mindset.»
In 2004, Meriem relocated to the UAE, a shift she does not perceive as ‘migration’ in the conventional way. «When I moved from Morocco to the United Arab Emirates, it felt less like departing from a homeland and more like transitioning from one home to another,» she says.
Gradually, «the imaginary boundary between ‘there’ and ‘here’ disappeared. Distance is no longer determined by geography but by the closeness one develops in their heart,» she explains. «Therefore, my writing emphasizes less on separation and more on connection, highlighting the human ability to establish a feeling of home wherever they feel secure and valued, taking their roots with them into new opportunities without abandoning them.»
When Poetry Chose Her
Meriem’s connection to poetry was neither coincidental nor a temporary passion. From an early age, she understood that words «are not just static letters, but living beings capable of listening.» Her initial writings in school notebooks evolved into a deep journey of consciousness and growth through wide reading and varied experiences. Now, she firmly states: «Poetry was not a short-lived interest, but an aesthetic destiny I chose… and it chose me.»
Meriem’s artistic creations address a variety of themes, particularly focusing on “identity as an ongoing inquiry,” delving into “the woman as a human being where power and vulnerability, quietude and defiance, fracture and resurgence exist together.”
Her work also explores themes of love, philosophical reflections, and the minor elements that form the broader pattern of existence.
In addition to Arabic poetry, Meriem Kouis is also skilled in Nabati poetry, a style that originates from the dialects of the Arabian Peninsula.
Her literary and cultural achievements have garnered her many awards. She was recognized at the 14th Sharjah Quranic Festival for Children and the 14th Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival in 2023. Furthermore, she was acknowledged as part of the “Our Heritage” initiative within the UAE’s “Most Beautiful Winter in the World” campaign in 2022.
In recognition of her contributions to literature, she was honored as “Ambassador of Arabic Literature” by the Al Bassam Forum for Culture and Arts and received the Medal of Excellence from the Al Huda Diamond Academy for Poetry and Literature.
I embody the essence of Morocco through my language, visuals, and recollections, and discover in my UAE residence a broad area for exchange and unity, where encounters merge and perspectives enhance one another.
The First Collection: Nabati Confessions
Meriem is currently working on a poetry collection that represents a major turning point in her career. She refers to it as a piece of “more compressed language and a more courageous perspective, a text that blends personal revelation with a broader human perspective.”
My initial collection is a Nabati poetic piece that reflects my personal experiences and perspective through a set of poems that alternate between emotional intensity and human insight. In this work, I aim to create a style that combines simplicity with profound meaning, making it approachable for readers and connecting with their emotions and issues.
The collection delves into themes of love, grief, and reminiscence, along with writings that mirror real-life scenarios and events that have impacted or inspired Meriem. Her goal is to blend the traditional aspects of Nabati poetry with a contemporary method in both presentation and expression.
Meriem hopes her poetry goes beyond boundaries, creating «a genuine impression on the reader’s heart: a lasting whisper that never disappears.» In addition to her writing, she runs a car dealership in the Emirate of Ajman.
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