The Semiotics of Color in the Poetry of Ibn Muqbil

Abstract

Arabic literature in general، and poetry in particular، revealed many formal aspects that uncover the underlying meanings of texts، and displayed those underlying meanings through methods with aesthetic، semantic، and artistic characteristics، to form a complete circle in terms of its basic components، alongside the other، the receiver or listener of the text. Among these aesthetic aspects is the property of color، which has held a long-standing significance for poets، as they dedicated many poems that expressed color and its attributes noticeably. These poems highlighted the advantages of each color and the extent that could be reached through focusing on the characteristic of that color chosen by the poet in a particular text. In this way، the poet could grasp the meaning he intended to convey، considering that color constitutes a symbolism with specific connotations، particularly in conveying the expressive and vivid image of the poet. Thus، color became a key element in transmitting those ideas or pictorial dimensions that inspired the poet، to provide the utmost precision to the dimensions of those images that he observes and disseminates in the text. By doing so، he achieves his intended goal. Consequently، the texts suggested the structure of these color indications، embodied within the poetic compositions that signify them، taking meanings and words، alongside the poet's skill and artistic ability، as means to bring out the lights