Abū Nuwās (d. 814) is considered by many to be the greatest poet in the Arabic language. When the philologist Ḥamzah al-Iṣfahānī (d. 961) came to edit the complete works of Abū Nuwās, he included over a hundred poems that describe hunting with hawks, falcons, eagles, cheetahs, and salukis, as well as poems on hunting with crossbows, slingshots and the hand-held bow.
This volume presents a new edition and translation of these poems.
A sample can be found on the Cordite Poetry Review website, including the poem below:
| Cheetah | |
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I move through black cloud night— A long search sights two herds Why hunt with any creature but a cheetah? |
والصبحُ في الظلماء ذو تَعَدِّي قد أغتدي والليلُ أحْوَى السُّدِّ لا خَيْرَ في صيدٍ بغير فَهْدِ |