Classical Poems by Arab Women

This is a collection of poetry by Arab women from the Jahiliyya (pre-Islamic era) to the Andalusian period. The poems are excursions into the women’s vibrant world whose humanity has been suppressed for centuries by religious and political bigotry; an affirmation of the women’s belief in themselves as free spirits who are the equals of men and have the will to lead a life of their own choice. They celebrate the triumph of feminine wit over the arrogance of muscle power. Classical Poems by Arab Women shows, for the first time, the unseen sparks of Arab women’s innermost emotions. This is a bilingual edition in which the English version appears facing the Arabic original.