A Mystical Reading of the Symbol of Bird in Fitouri’s ode ‘Awraq Taerollayl’ Relying on the Influence of Attar’s Manṭiq-uṭ-Ṭayr

Abstract

The majority of Arab contemporary poets, particularly those after the 1950’s and 1960’s, have paid attention to using codes and symbols in their poetry. One of the reasons underlying Arab contemporary poets’ tendency to use mystic expression and symbols is their keen interest in romanticism and the deep sorrow that romantic poets express in their poetry. Mohammed Fitouri, a Sudanese poet who was once under the influence of this school, adopted Sufi language in order to express his sublime inner sorrow (pain) and his mystical experience. In his ode Awraq-Taerollayl, he has considered bird as the symbol of his transparent soul that praises God and sings Sufi songs. Relying on the symbol of the bird, this Sudanese poet illustrates his loneliness and sorrow. To this end, Fitouri has adopted Attar’s symbolism in Manṭiq-uṭ-Ṭayr, and has considered its two fundamental ideas, namely, Seiroorat (trans-substantial motion) and achieving the unity of existence. This research purports to offer a mystical interpretation of Fitouri’s poetic experience and comparatively examine the impact of bird symbolism in Manṭiq-uṭ-Ṭayr on Feitouri’s work based on the French School.

Keywords

• awraq-taerollayl
• manṭiq-uṭ-ṭayr
• fitori
• attar
• the symbol of bird