‘Prince of Poets’ Jawdat Haidar passes away at 102 BEIRUT: Jawdat Haidar, the Arb League's “Prince of Po ts" passed avay eater this sweet the age of 102 Haidar was born an tioman subject to alae Bale fam iy of wea endors, Arab tadonalsts and intellecuals. ‘heir Arabist leanings got Haidar immedi fy Ge- red to Anatolia ia the Years fore Work War ‘Alter graduating. fom Birt iteration Calle, Haidar traveled to France and Ameria fora university ed cation. “He graduated” from North Texas State: University witha dere in Education and ‘etumed fo Lebanon in 1928 ‘Over the next 90 years he worked theolindustry trade and agrclture and dabied in Lebanese politi He wrote po etry too, emulating poets Like Gibran Khalil Gibran, Amin Ri fant and Mikhail Naim who composed in Engh. Alter an Ad eof wring in Engtsh, Haidar began writing poetry in Ambic following his wife's ‘death in 1982, Tawdat Haidar has four books of poetry to his name, ‘Voices” (1980) was published inthe US."Echoes" (1986) and ‘Shadows" (1999) were bath published in Lebanon. "101 Se fected Poems,” his last book, was published earlier this year by Vantage Pres. Haidar received, a papal medal from from Pope ohn XXIll, the French Republic awarded him’ the’ Medal la Croix de Grand Oificer, while the Lebanese Republic gave him the Gold Medal of Merit and the Onder of the Cedars, “He's been terribly con cered with the dialogue be tween civilizations,” recalls his ‘granddaughter, Khatoun Hai ar. When he went to America itwas stl the home ofthe free, you see, He's been distressed about everything that’s been happening in recent years Regrettably, Haidars con cerns outlived hi,