Classical Poems by Arab Women

Abdullah al-Udhari was born in Taiz, Yemen, in 1941, and has lived in London since 1962. He studied classical Arab literature and Sabaean epigraphy at London University, where he also received a doctorate for his pioneering study, Jahili Poetry before Imru al-Qais [4000 bce500 ce], which established him as an authority on early Jahili literature. In 1974 he founded and edited TR, an Anglo-Arab literary and arts magazine. He is a literary historian, poet and storyteller, and the author of Voice Without Passport, The Arab Creation Myth, Victims of a Map, and Modern Poetry of the Arab World.

'One of the most exciting books to have come my way this year ... Vividly conveys the richness and diversity of a culture more closely related to our own than we realize.'

• Introduction 13; The Jahiliyya (4000 BCE - 622 CE) 25; Mahd al-Aadiyya 26; Afira bint Abbad 28; Laila bint Lukaiz 34; Jalila bint Murra 38; Umama bint Kulaib 42; Safiyya bint Khalid al-Bahiliyya 44; Juhaifa Addibabiyya 46; Umm Khalid Annumairiyya 48; Ishraqa al-Muharibiyya 50; Umm Addahak al-Muharibiyya 52; Anonymous 56; Khansa 58; The Islam Period (622-661) 63; Fatima bint Muhammad 64; Anonymous 72; The Umayyad Period (661-750) 75; Laila bint Sa'd al-Aamiriyya 76; Maisun bint Bahdal 78; Laila al-Akhyaliyya 80; Dahna bint Mas-hal 84; Bint al-Hubab 86; Umm al-Ward al-Ajlaniyya 90; Anonymous 92; Anonymous 94; Umaima Addumainiyya 96; The Abbasid Period (750-1258) 99; Hajna bint Nusaib 100; Raabi'a al-Adwiyya 102; Laila bint Tarif 106; Ulayya bint al-Mahdi 108; Lubana bint Ali ibn al-Mahdi 120; Anonymous 122; Inan 124; Aasiya al-Baghdadiyya 126; Zahra al-Kilabiyya 128; Aa'isha bint al-Mu'tasim 130; Fadl Ashsha'ira 132; Zabba bint Umair ibn al-Muwarriq 134; Juml 136; Umm Ja'far bint Ali 138; Arib al-Ma'muniyya 140; Thawab bint Abdullah al-Hanzaliyya 142; Salma bint al-Qaratisi 144; Safiyya al-Baghdadiyya 146; Taqiyya Umm Ali 148; Shamsa al-Mawsiliyya 152; The Andalus Period (711-1492) 155; Hafsa bint Hamdun 156; Aa'isha bint Ahmad al-Qurtubiyya 160; Mariam bint Abu Ya'qub 162; Umm al-Kiram bint al-Mu'tasim ibn Sumadih 164; Umm al-Ala bint Yusuf 168; Khadija bint Ahmad ibn Kulthum al-Mu'afiri 176; Qasmuna bint Isma'il ibn Yusuf ibn Annaghrila 178; Ghassaniyya al-Bajjaniyya 182; Wallada bint al-Mustakfi 184; I'timad Arrumaikiyya 196; Muhja bint Attayyani al-Qurtubiyya 198; Nazhun al-Gharnatiyya 200; Amat al-Aziz 204; Buthaina bint al-Muctamid ibn Abbad 206; Hind 208; Umm al-Hana bint Abdulhaqq ibn Atiyya 210; Hafsa bint al-Hajj Arrakuniyya 212; Ashshilbiyya 232; Aa'isha al-Iskandraniyya 234;Hamda bint Ziyad 236; Umm Assad bint Isam al-Himyari 240;