Cultural references and manifestations in the poetry of Saleh Al-Kawaz

Abstract

    Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al Kawwāz al Ḥillī is considered one of the conservative Iraqi men of letters who contributed to preserving the structure of the classical Arabic poem, including its introduction and conclusion, in the manner upheld by the ancients; a close study of his poems reveals the continual presence of diverse cultural sources and references. These references constitute intellectual and cognitive foundations upon which the writer or poet relies, varying according to different fields of knowledge. The cultural references in his poetry fall under three main axes: the religious influence, the historical influence, and the literary influence, the latter encompassing the impact of pre Islamic poetry, Umayyad and Abbasid poetry, and Andalusian poetry on al Kawwāz. This study adopts an integrative methodological approach and arrives at several findings, most notably the predominance of a deep religious culture in al Kawwāz’s poetry, evident in the extensive use of Qurʾanic quotation and intertextuality throughout his dīwān, as well as the diversity of cultural influences that renders his poetic text rich in literary, rhetorical, intellectual, and cultural heritage, in addition to his frequent references to historical figures and past events, reflecting his broad knowledge of historical sources, narratives, and Arabic tales.