Poems in Stone: Imagery, Text and Meaning in ʿĀmirid Art

Abstract

In the centre of the hall is a large basin of green water in which the turtles continually make sounds. The water pours from the jaws of a lion whose mouth could only be more terrible if it spoke. It is of scented aloeswood and around its neck one sees a handsome necklace of pearls. Meanwhile, the jasmine watches from its throne, as if it were a king, When a sudden blaze of light would have brought down the head And narcissus, wallflowers, violets and roses stop exhaling their perfume. They watch languidly, and out of happiness they can scarcely contain the desire to speak to you, despite not having tongues. At your side you have lilies that sprout from themselves, The luminosity of the spring, such is the beauty which they give out. All of these [flowers], in their abundant diversity, remind you Of the victorious banners trembling on the day of combat. In this hall, without doubt, a king, whose riches are without number, has gathered all happiness[es] for his people. And thanks to him the West has attained such power That even the East feels envy because of him. Abū Marwān al-Jazīrī (d. 1003)1