December 28, 2020

The Poem of the Bow

by Ma‘qil ibn Dirar, called al-Shammakh
(floruit 1st half of the 1st century A.H.),
appears in issue 29 (2020) of A Public Space
وبالعربية ت صلاح الدين الهادي
Thanks to the editors

Three onagers (wild asses) run in a rightward direction across a plain that is dotted with stylized flowers. The onager in the lead looks back over its shoulder at the other two, and the rearward onager opens its mouth as if braying aloud. Below them, a verse of Persian poetry is written in black ink on a golden background.
Detail from a folio of the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi,
illuminated by Mir Sayyid Ali and workshop (ca. 1530-1535).
Previously owned by Shah Tahmasp I, now at the Met

tr. by David Larsen at 9:48 AM  

Labels: ,