The Order of Fruits in Comparison – Nature Poetry in al-Ṣafadī’s (d. 764/1363) Work on Similes

von Hees, Syrinx

Abstract

Research on “nature poetry” has so far mainly focused on the topics of flowers, garden and the spring in Arabic poetry up to around 1100. The Mamluk litérateur al-Ṣafadī (d. 764/1363) presents in his work on similes al-Kašf wa-l-tanbīh ʿalā l-waṣf wa-l-tašbīh (The Revelation and Instruction on Poetic Description and Comparison) as a conclusion to be drawn from his theory, an anthology with poetic examples taken exclusively from the realm of nature including many specific fruits next to many kinds of flower. Through comparison with earlier works on similes, analysing their presentation of nature in general, and fruits more specifically, and of the mulberry as a specific example, this contribution tries to understand for the first time the role of nature poetry in the centuries after 1100 and possibly tries to explore the reasons behind changed interests. Trying to figure out the ordering principles of different works will help us explore these questions. Of course, this is only one first step into a broad field, and not only of flowers and fruits.