Arab Poet Abu Nuwas

Many of Abu NuwasÆ wine poems draw on elements that pertain to the ôbacchic theme in earlier poetry,ö and in this poem we see these themes readily displayed (Kennedy 2). Persian, Nuwas writes in the tradition of ôthe old hard-drinking culture of the Sasanian Persian courtö (Widening 123). We see in this poem he is being berated for ôtaking a morning drink,ö but counters that the woman berating him is one ôNot knowing as yet that I am munificent and love those amongst my drinking companions that are like myselfö (Select 1). In many Arabic wine poems, the ôpoet rebuts the censurerö through fakhr according to Kennedy (149).

The poem by Nuwas demonstrates the conventional movement in wine songs that developed during the Abbasid period, from ôcontemplation of what his cup contained to contemplation of the boy who had brought itö (Widening 122). In this manner wine songs or wine poetry became fused with

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s the body from the control of logic and traditions, into a symbol of total liberationö (Widening 123). Indeed, in this poem we see that the speaker has no inhibitions about describing the boyÆs impact on his libido. For the wine bearer is described in a manner that makes it apparent that the speakerÆs intoxicated state has made him completely lost in the boyÆs charms, ôIn whose eyes there is obvious magic, and in whose fragrance is a sweet smell like the diffusion of perfumeö (Select 2). The speaker continues to submerge himself in the boyÆs appeal through imagery that includes the sun, moon, wine, and fine jewels, ôHe is the full moon, though there is a beauty in his languid glance that excels the sun and the moon. / He laughs to uncover a pretty set of teethùthey are like bubbles of wine or choice pearlsö (Select 3). Kennedy (81) argues that in a number of his wine poems, Abu Nuwas ôstepped beyond convention to produce a rich texture of eroticism.ö This rich texture of eroticism is readily apparent in the poem at hand. The ôfawn-like youthö nod his head ôin assentö to the wind, ôbeckoning the carousers to enjoy themselves whilst inclined in gait by inebriationö (Select 3). Nuwas is basically defining an orgy but does so i
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Approximate Word count = 1289
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)