August 12 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Qabil (Gabil Allahverdi oglu Imamverdiyev), one of the prominent representatives of Azerbaijani poetry and People’s Poet.
Sea-news.az reports that the poet, born in the city of Baku in 1926, left an indelible mark on modern Azerbaijani literature with his literary heritage, poetic language close to the spirit of the people, and social activities.
The poet’s first poem (“Gel baharim”) was published in the Adabiyyat newspaper in 1944, and his first book (“Seher achilir”) was published in 1950.
Among the works that brought eternal fame to Qabil are the philosophical-psychological poem Nasimi, as well as unforgettable poems such as Bakili, Garishdirma, Corek, Tamizlik, and Gullebaran eyladiler.
These famous lines penned by the poet in 1969 still retain their relevance today: “Fog circles the mountain, Doomsday happens. Fog goes down to the road, Calamity happens. We become a calamity, When our place falls out of order.”
In the early years of independence, the poet created bold lyrical examples reflecting the destiny of the people, such as Shehid anasi, Geyrat, a vatandashlar, and Xecalat.
Qabil, who served as the Chairman of the Elders Council of the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union, was awarded the country’s highest state decorations—the “Shohrat” and “Istiglal” orders.
The witty and amusing anecdotes popular among the people were collected and published in the books My Friend Gabil’s Strange Stories by People’s Writer Ismayil Shikhli and My Father Gabil’s Strange Stories by the poet’s son, Mahir Gabiloglu.
People’s Poet Qabil passed away in Baku on April 4, 2007.
