The Poetic Art of Al-Bullayq: From Literary Theory to Poetic Practice in the Mamluk Era

Abstract

This research investigates the poetic art of the bullayq. It addresses the dichotomy between its theoretical definition as a form of "humor and licentiousness" and its complex application in the Mamluk period. This study aims to trace the term itself, uncover its distinctive formal and thematic features, and examine its complex relationship with neighboring genres. It adopts an integrated descriptive-analytical methodology, constructing a broad textual corpus from classical sources for its descriptive component, whilst the analytical component consists of a close examination of this material to investigate its artistic features and interpret its themes in their cultural contexts. Also, the analysis concludes that the bullayq was not a minor subgenre but a vibrant and widespread literary form in Mamluk Egypt, distinguished by formal characteristics such as the alternation of long and short hemistichs. It functioned as a vessel for broader concerns, including social and political critique, thereby highlighting the significant gap between poetic theory and living literary practice.