a-"muse"-ing henna in literature, a challenge from Medieval Persia
Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on October 06, 1999 at 04:27:51:
My most recent siege on henna history at the library has been scanning
through love poetry in the countries where henna was used. I was
despairing the shortage of depictions of ladies (especially nude) in
Medieval Islamic art... so I wandered into to the poetry section.
Wheeee!!!!!! Goldmine!!!! Some Medieval Islamic poets were deeply
amorous, and wrote wonderful poems about the rapurous beauty of
hennaed ladies.
Here's one .... by Sa'di .... about 1260 C.E., Persia... appropriate
for the October Harvest moon.... here's what he wrote:
"A full moon under a veil, or an Houri with dyed hands? Is it a
streak of indigo on her heart-alluring eyebrows, or a rainbow above
the sun? Oh thou, the gossip of a city and a mischief to people, Day
and Night are in thy face."
Now....as the forum is populated with some of the most intelligent and
excellent people I have ever e-met....What poems can YOU write that
compare henna to the harvest moon and autumn leaves?