The Lammia of Amr Ibn Sha's and the Mu'llaqa of Imru' Alqays: An Opposition

Abstract

This study reveals Amr Ibn Sha's' (Lammia) in which he followed Imru' al –Qays' popular Mu'allaqa in a prescribed way which is very close to that of an opposition, and that is due to the content of its ingredients, However it also contained three verses in which Amr Ibin Sha's is proud of himself over Imru' al – Qays for murdering his father, and for the victory of Bani Asad over Kinda. And so, if it weren't for these three lines it would have been considered a complete opposition, and this is evidence that opposition deeply exists, if permitted, in our old Arabic poetry, or if I might say in the art of poetic fencing. The study depends basically on the text to begin with, to read/analyze, similarize and to contemplate the methods of imagery, composition and language and what is in store in terms of metaphor and symbolism, primarily depending on historical and social framing and its incorporation of psychological dimensions. And for that very purpose, the study reveals some contributive historicizing before the discussion/analysis of the two poems; how they are similar and different, and how each poet presented his own poetic experiences and points of view, to reveal the capability of Amr Ibn Sha's to produce a scholarly strong Mu'allaqa and his capability to keep up with it in a way where it is not a repeated copy, on the contrary, it is another original manuscript for creativity which is digested and secreted once more. Key Word: The Lamia of Amr Ibn Sha's, Mullaqa of Imru' Alqays, Poetic opposition