Original Poem
النشر مسك والوجوه دنا نير وأطراف الأكفُ عَتَم (1)
Translation (English)
The spreading is like musk and the faces are bright
And the fingertips are darkened
Historical Context
- Literary Form
- Classical Arabic Poetry
- When Written
- Classical period
- Background
- This line reflects the classical Arabic poetic tradition, which often used rich and evocative imagery to convey beauty, nature, and human emotions.
Sources: https://www.maajim.com/dictionary/النشر+مسك+والوجوه+دنانيرواطراف+الاكف+علم, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_poetry
Detailed Explanation
This line of poetry uses vivid imagery to convey a sense of beauty and richness. 'The spread is like musk' suggests a pervasive and pleasant fragrance, likening it to musk, which is a symbol of luxury and allure. 'The faces are like dinars' implies that the faces are bright and valuable, akin to gold coins. 'And the fingertips are darkened' could suggest a contrast, perhaps indicating the toil or effort behind the beauty, or it could be a reference to the use of henna, a traditional adornment. This use of metaphor and simile is typical of classical Arabic poetry, which often celebrates beauty and elegance through such comparisons.
Themes
Literary Devices
Word Dictionary
| Word | Meaning | Translation | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|---|
| النشر | الانتشار | spread | al-nashr |
| مسك | عطر | musk | misk |
| والوجوه | والأوجه | and the faces | wal-wujuh |
| دنا | قريب | near | danaa |
| نير | مضيء | bright | nayir |
| وأطراف | ونهايات | and the tips | wa-atraf |
| الأكفُ | الأيدي | the palms | al-akuffu |
| عَتَم | مظلم | darkened | a'tam |
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