Manifestations of Fertility and Barrenness in the Poetry of Rahim Al-Gharbawi: The Psalms of Orpheus as an Example

Abstract

This study explores the poetry of Rahim Al-Gharbawi, focusing on the manifestations of fertility and barrenness as overarching themes that permeate his poetic works. These two concepts carry both existential depth and moral significance, penetrating the human soul and its surroundings. Fertility is depicted through freedom, life, abundance, resurrection, justice, and all that is associated with goodness. In contrast, barrenness is characterized by loss, alienation, death, scarcity, and injustice. Critical analysis plays a crucial role in revealing these themes, which represent two existential forces: one that sustains life and another that destroys it. Al-Gharbawi’s poetry engages deeply with these forces, expressing the reality of human hopes and sorrows. The poet addresses these themes from a distinctly human perspective, often employing indirect methods. He alludes to fertility and barrenness through mythological, historical, and natural symbols, which evoke both wonder and pleasure in the reader. Through careful reading, these symbols reveal the essence of life and its universal nature.