Fatos Arapi, poet, prose writer and esthetician, died in Tirana. He was born in Vlora, in 1930. He studied economics at the University of Sofia (1949–1954). He worked as a journalist, lecturer and writer in free creativity. Fatos Arapi started writing during his studies. He has published the poetic volumes: “Shtigje poetike” (“Poetic pathways”)(1962), “Poema dhe vjersha” (“Poems and rhymes”) (1966), “Drejt qindra shekujsh shkojmë” (“Towards hundreds of centuries we go”) (1977), “Analogji personale” (“Personal analogy”) (2001), etc. Fatos Arapi relied on the spirit of popular poetry and its generalizing force, moving away from the narrative, descriptive style. In some of the most striking creations, Fatos Arapi evokes the heroism of the years of the anti-fascist war with anthemic notes. Over the years, the poem has become more metaphorical; through elliptical verse and through the symbol of allegory, she aims to enter the substratums of consciousness and the secrets of the human soul. Some motifs of his poetry reflect the tragedy of human life, they speak of a hazy horizon, within which anxiety and uncertainty are felt. Fatos Arapi’s verse is an interweaving of classical verse with verse with a free rhythm, which acquires an original sound. The poems “Alarme të përgjakura” (“Bloody Alarms”) (1966), “Drashovica” (1961) and “Antiburokratike” (“Antibureaucratic”) (1968) occupy a prominent place in Fatos Arapi’s creativity, along with short lyrics. Fatos Arapi has also written novels, such as: “Patat e egra” (“Wild Geese”) (1970), “Dikush më buzëqeshte” (“Someone Smiled at Me”) (1972), and the novels “Dhjetor i shqetësuar” (“Worried December”) (“(1970), “Shokët” (“Friends”) (1977), “Deti në mes” (“The Sea in the Middle”) (1977). Fatos Arapi’s poems have also been published in foreign languages. Fatos Arapi has published studies and essays on folklore problems such as “Këngë të moçme shqiptare” (“Old Albanian songs”), (1986), historical views on the Balkans, “Çështja shqiptare dhe kriza ballkanike” (“The Albanian issue and the Balkan crisis”), (2001), on poetry, such as on Lasgush Poradeci, etc. It has also been translated by Pablo Neruda, from Bulgarian, Macedonian, Turkish, etc. poetry. (In the photo: Fatos Arapi)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 86-87.
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