No one had ever before presented mathematics as a metrical poem of approximately 1250 verses. il

By : Iyead Khalil 

There is an eternal and profound relationship between the sea and the pen. The sea, with its isolation, dangers, and endless vastness, has always been a great source of inspiration for writers .Indeed, some of history's greatest writers were originally sailors or captains who spent many years on the The sea is a natural drama and a vast storehouse of stories; it is the raw material for creativity.

Combined the Oar and the pen

Among  Syrian Capt Youssef Ahmed Jund, who combined the oar and the pen is one of those who were swept away by "sea literature" and whose thoughts were stirred to produce many of his creations. He is the son of the country of the Prince of the Seas, Hanna Mina, the owner of immortal maritime creations.is one of those who were swept away by "sea literature" and whose thoughts were stirred to produce many of his creations. He is the son of the country of the Prince of the Seas, Hanna Mina, the owner of immortal maritime creations.

Youssef Ahmed Jundi was born on Arwad Island in 1967. He holds a degree in mathematics from Latakia University, then studied marine sciences at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport ( AASTMT )  in Egypt, and later obtained a master’s degree from Syria.

How did the moment of creativity and writing come about while you were working in a demanding profession as a captain?

Seafarers and captains often possess traits that make them innate writers. The contemplative life they lead aboard their ships and the long periods of solitude before an open horizon provide ample time for mental reflection, writing, and creativity. The sea places man face to face with life and death, the raw material of creativity.

What about your creations?

I have produced several literary works, including 12 poetry Collections and 7 poetry manuscripts. I have also authored several scientific books in the fields of maritime science and mathematics, including: a book on ship stability, intended as a comprehensive guide from beginner to advanced levels; a book on celestial navigation; a book on coastal navigation; and a mathematics book for deck officers to address the deficiencies in knowledge often lacking among seafarers, transforming the material into mathematical problems."

In the realm of poetry, our poet says: "Initially, I wrote short poetry collections, then medium-length ones, and my last two collections were published in Sharjah and featured at the Sharjah International Book Fair. These are:

- A poetry collection titled 'The Seaman'

A poetry collection titled 'The Thousand Verses of Ibn al-Malik'. This latter book, in particular, has a unique story. The poet, Youssef Jundi, explains: 'I am a mathematics graduate and also proficient in the tools of poetry. Therefore, I wrote a poetic treatise explaining mathematics from the very basics, up to the high school curriculum and even touching upon the university curriculum.'

This 'thousand-verse poem' was unprecedented in history. No one had ever before presented mathematics as a metrical poem of approximately 1250 verses. In it, I explained mathematical concepts, from addition and subtraction to statistical functions, integration, differentiation, and matrices."

Jundi adds, "I founded an educational institution called the Generations of Light Institute in Tartous about 24 years ago, and I am currently establishing the Generations Institute for Maritime Sciences, specializing in maritime studies."

How do you see the influence of the sea on Arab culture?

 The sea symbolizes vastness and expanse. When one gazes upon it, one's vision expands, evoking a sense of spiritual fulfillment and becoming a source of inspiration. Throughout history, water has been a source of inspiration for poets. Those who have experienced the sea understand how to interact with it, how to extract its hidden treasures, especially when the sea is calm and serene as he said 

Our poet adding  "I have many poems on this subject, in which I speak of the sea, the ship, and life at sea. My poems depict the lives of sailors aboard ships, the feelings and emotions that overcome them, and I describe the ship's movements on the water with exquisite imagery."

A person whose heart never sleeps.

A Seafarers is a person who sacrifices his life, a person whose heart never sleeps. This feeling is constant for the sailor. When a seafarer leaves the sea and returns home, the sound of the waves still echoes in his ears, and he acts at home as if he were still on the ship. The seafarer continues to live in a state of echo and reverberation. He adds, "The life of the sea is envied, and they don't know how much we suffer at sea."

Regarding his professional life, our poet says that he is a full-time teacher and is also a member of the committee for developing maritime curricula for Syrian maritime secondary schools and the Syrian Maritime Academy."

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Youssef Ahmed Jundi , poetry Collections ,Arwad Island , Hanna Mina , Oar and the pen