Abu Rishah, Omar (1910-1990), Syrian poet and diplomat. He was in Acre, Palestine from a family originally from Manbej, near Aleppo. He attended Damascus University, the American University of Beirut, and the University of Manchester. He contributed to the influential Egyptian literature journal Apollo, and worked as a librarian in Aleppo. In 1949, he was appointed ambassador to Brazil, a position he held until 1953. He also served as an ambassador to Argentina (1953-1954), India (1954-1959) and the United States (1961-1964). He settled in Saudi Arabia after his retirement. His poetry is mainly romantic and he is noted for modern poetry which broke with the traditions of Arab classicism. He published serveral volumes in Arabic, as well as one that was translated into English under the title Roving Along.