Qsida
ode or poem, has 3 parts
Mu’allaqa
seven long Arabic qasida that have come down from the time before Islam
Ritha’
eulogy, someone who has passed away
Hija’
criticising or attacking someone
Nasib
prelude, intro
Rahil
the journey
Fakhr/madih
praise (of tribe or person)
Shi’r
poetry
Sha’ir
poet
Markers of a nasib
ruined abodes, names and locations, mood (melancholy), lost love or lover, questions, departure of women
Labid
a poet (first poem)
al-Nabigha
a poet (second poem)
al-Mutajarraida
queen, the wife
al-Nu’man
the king
Orality and cultural importance
spoken word, many could not read and/or write.
Their nomadic lifestyle creates a need for an oral culture which lends itself to poetry over other forms of literature. The rhythm helps to make the poetry easier to recall. Poems are self preserved within the mind.
