Types of poetic imagery and their cultural sources in the poetry of Salm al-Khasir (186 AH)

Abstract

This study seeks to reveal the types of poetic imagery and their cultural sources in the poetry of Salm al-Khasir, viewing poetic imagery as an essential artistic component in the structure of literary works, especially poetry. Poetic imagery constitutes the backbone of the poem and is among the most effective rhetorical devices, granting the poet ample space to project his artistic visions onto objects and experiences. Poetic imagery thus bears a primary function: to intensify or transform the meaning of things, whether positively or negatively. Accordingly, the research focuses on the poetry of Salm al-Khasir, one of the poets of the early Abbasid period. His poetry is distinguished for its precision in depiction and refined artistry in shaping and re-producing ideas, regardless of their nature. Although he is considered a relatively minor poet in terms of quantity compared to his contemporaries, this does not preclude the study of his poetry. The research uniquely concentrates on analyzing the construction of his artistic language within the realm of poetic imagery. The study yielded several findings, the most important of which is that Salm al-Khasir’s poetry is characterized by the use of multiple and diverse patterns of poetic imagery,