Ms. Sabri won an award for scholarship from the ABS. Her topic for this talk is “The Purpose of Poetry”. She begins by quoting “The Secret of Divine Civilization” where ‘Abdu’l-Baha said, “The individual should, prior to engaging in the study of any subject, ask himself what its uses are and what fruit and result will derive from it. If it is a useful branch of knowledge, that is, if society will gain important benefits from it, then he should certainly pursue it with all his heart.” The Guardian has said there is no cultural expression at this time that can be called “Baha’i”.
“The intent of this essay is to try to find the justification for efforts of the Baha’i artists of this time—in the midst of the Formative Age—who are endeavoring to use their artistic talents—as Baha’is—in a Baha’i context.”