Devastated and amazed

Plugs and fittings

Author's name: Abdullah bin Salim Al Rashid

Literature has classes, and each class has its people. Several classes may come together in a single author. Look wherever you will in the collections of some of the greats, and you will find poems of taste, and compositions that one reader praises, and another looks at with a sideways glance. There is no reproach on the satisfied, nor blame on the dissatisfied; everyone has the right to approve or disapprove, as long as the reception is based on the fundamentals of necessary knowledge of literature, especially poetry. With this I say: It is time for the Marcians to respect the tastes of the rababiyyun, who are delighted by (the rababa of the housewife), and dazzled by (qafa nabki). And let the observers cry as they wish (Of the fallen al-Luwa between al-Dukhul and Hawmal), and let those enjoy the crowing of (Nine hens and a rooster with a beautiful voice). This book is an attempt to descend from the ivory tower, by presenting eloquent literature to multiple classes, and perhaps it will win over the denier, appease the angry, and return the stray. It is a very dangerous attempt; because the author is certain that he is following a path full of stumbling blocks, whose paths are snatched by the hooks of criticism and the claws of opinions. However, he is nevertheless forward, refraining from mentioning the consequences. Whoever is not pleased with the presentation of this book should consider that a shortcoming on the part of the author in his hospitality, not a deficiency in eloquent literature, and let him judge it by the author’s limited means, not by the shortness of his grasp of eloquent language.