About May Ziade May Ziade (née Marie, with Ziade also written Ziadé, Ziyada or Ziadeh) (Arabic: مي زيادة‎) (February 11, 1886. – 1941), was a prolific Lebanese-Palestinian poet, essayist and translator. A writer for Arab newspapers and periodicals, Ziade also wrote a number of poems and books. She was a key figure of the Nahda in the early 20th century Arab literary scene, and is known for being an "early Palestinian feminist" and "pioneer of Oriental feminism"."