Metonymic Imagery in Tamim Al-Barghouti’s and Yahya Al-Samawi’s Poems: A Parallelistic Approach

Abstract

Given the importance of poetic imagery in the interpretation of multiple poems, this paper follows a descriptive-analytical in order to unfold meanings and themes in two different poets drawing on a parallelistic analysis. The two poets under study shared similar themes in their poems having drawn on Islamic issues and religious issues and references. Their poems referred to several traditional Muslim figures symbolizing peace, bravery, and challenge. Such tradition-inspired symbolism has created an abundant layer of metaphors and meanings. Al-Samawi addressed Iraq-related issues while Al-Bargouti addressed Palestine-related issues. Both poets have drawn on crises and catastrophes as key themes of their respective poems. This paper, accordingly, aims at unfolding the themes implied in selected poems authored by the above-mentioned poets by elaborating on imagery as a metonymic device.