Day 186:

Jan 2-Qasida, the Arabic qasida is a non-strophic, tripartite poem employing 50 to 120 hemstitch lines, monorhyme and quantitative meter with a tripartite sequence of thematic modules. Adjectives are used in place of nouns: strutting in place of ostrich. They used telescoping metaphors that were so much fun to work with: Like the Greek ode, the qasida is divided into three parts. However, the interrelated strophe, antistrophe and epode of the Greek ode do not correspond to the three independent thematic sections of the qasida: the nasib, rahil and fakrh. The classical qasida’s structure is similar to the Jungian “Hero’s Quest”:

1.     The nasib is a moment of separation and typically depicts a symbolic recognition of the “other”, which prompts the persona into a state of agitation.

2.     The rahil is a moment of margin and depicts a liminal state
characterized by anti-social behavior.

3.     Finally, the fakrh is a moment of aggregation and depicts a scene of
integration with the community.

The qasida’s narrative is a rite of passage, a transformative experience shared by the persona, performer and audience.  This is a difficult form. Take a shot at it and see.

Non-strophic

Polyphonic

Qasida

Metaphors outstretched

Adjectives are fetched

Rhyming

Work out the timing

Sequence

Length of term no consequence

Just three sections

Let the Nasib begin

Maxim morality

Nostalgia thick or thin

Elasticity

If read or heard

Thus inferred

Prepare for the third

Wore of the word.

Begin again

Rahil  another

It’s brother

Take a spin or cease

Release

For peace

Disengaging

Or enraging

Transition to

Make it through

Running, walking

Satire joking

Toward three

So wonderfully

Acting forcefully

Maximally

Working toward

Going forward

Arabic involvement

Ends this installment.

Messaging incurred

Petition procured

Integrating morals

For poor mortals

Passage of rite

To community

All to see

Humor in thee

Tremendously

Fit for rhyming

Show the timing

Nouns few, adjectives yes

Difficult I must confess

Relate

Nearing one’s fate

A Qasida writ

See if also fit

This Arabic form done

Now for some fun!