ImageWhat it representsPearls (luʾluʾ)TearsNarcissus (narjis)EyesRose (ward)Red cheekJujube (ʿunnāb)Red lipsHail (barad)White teeth
The metaphors form one coherent human scene. A tear falls from an eye and wets a cheek, while teeth press against the lips. The poet's ingenuity lies in retaining that connection while expressing every feature through another object.
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The Ḥulwān Maqāmah: Doubt, Proof and a Contest of Poetry
ImageWhat it representsPearls (luʾluʾ)TearsNarcissus (narjis)EyesRose (ward)Red cheekJujube (ʿunnāb)Red lipsHail (barad)White teeth
The metaphors form one coherent human scene. A tear falls from an eye and wets a cheek, while teeth press against the lips. The poet's ingenuity lies in retaining that connection while expressing every feature through another object.