By Sariah Faith H. Cordova & Jamie Biel C. Perez
The Poetic Heart, an annual celebration of love for poetry, celebrated their 15th edition on February 5, 2026, with Far Eastern Private School Al Shahba attending the prestigious event in support of their representative and appreciation for the humanistic event.
Each year, a theme is thoughtfully chosen and introduced, with this year’s theme consisting of peace, harmony, environment, friendship, hope, tolerance, motherhood, building bridges, and determination.
Such truly showcases the platform’s commitment to a peaceful society in which camaraderie is highlighted in order to build bridges instead of walls through respecting one another, protecting the environment, and strengthening relationships with those we cherish.
Thus, young poets from various schools across the United Arab Emirates were invited to present their pieces. Each poem presented not only captivated the audience but also moved them deeply.
The celebration was held at the Emirates Institute for Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS). 165 schools were given an opportunity to listen to the poignant poems presented on stage, with a total of 70 poets and 20 talented musicians taking the stage during the two-day event.
FEPS Al Shahba’s very own poet, Hend Mohammad Ahmad Ghaleb, recited her piece entitled “The Lighthouse Keeper.” Her dulcet presentation resonated deeply with the attentive audience, with lines such as “The strength to mend, the wisdom to let go—a sculptor of futures, carving hope into the unknown. As thundering as the comber may be,” underscoring the significance and nuance of motherhood.
Through a brief interview, Hend described her thought process in choosing a theme to center her piece on: “When I first got the offer, I scrolled through the citations. After screening through everything, I believe I chose motherhood as my theme, as it was the one that stuck with me the most—especially since motherhood explores unspoken emotions.”
She also provided insight into the emotions she felt before and during her recital: “To be honest, I was quite nervous as I was sitting in my chair, but the moment I stepped on stage, thankfully, I was able to recite the poem as practiced, or even better. Seeing my fellow batchmates also made me feel less nervous, which I am really thankful for.”
Additionally, upon being questioned on what she believed to be the most meaningful section of the poem, she answered, “The most meaningful part to me, I would say, is ‘For every voyager who sails the sea knows home is where the lighthouse stands to be,’ mostly because this line acts as a guiding ending wherein, no matter where you are, you will always find your way to the lighthouse.”
As this year’s program came to a close, a contemplative ambience could be felt in the theater, each spectator departing with newfound perspectives and a ponderous reflection on the themes of connecting humanity.
The Poetic Heart most certainly accomplished their mission once again, with a successful celebration having taken place. Poets and spectators alike are sure to tune in to next year’s edition.
Photos by Chloe Gochy