The Gardens of Paradise

Discover the verses of Al-Andalus with this enchanting collection of 90 newly translated Islamic Andalusian poems. Adapted to preserve a rhyming style, these lyrical verses transport you back in time to the vibrant streets and ancient palaces of medieval Islamic Spain and Portugal.

From the pens of rulers, politicians, soldiers, men and women, these poems offer a rich tapestry of voices spanning from the 8th to the 15th century - the lifespan of Al-Andalus.

Immerse yourself in bustling cities, fragrant gardens, and majestic palaces. Feel the pulse of daily life, the rhythm of love and longing, and the echoes of wisdom passed down through generations.

This collection also explores the depth of religious contemplation, the solemnity of elegies for cities lost to conquest, and presents the final years of Al-Andalus through the eyes of its poets.

These translations breathe new life into ancient verses, allowing you to savor them as they were meant to be enjoyed – as lyrical works that sing to the soul. These translations have carefully been adapted so that the beauty of these poems can be appreciated as lyrical works even though they are in translation.

In the lands of Al-Andalus, now modern-day Spain and Portugal, history whispers through the narrow streets and ancient palaces. A thousand years ago, when this area was under Muslim rule, poetry thrived as a vital part of everyday life. This collection of freshly translated verses explores the different subjects of Arabic Andalusian poetry, spanning the history of this captivating region.

In this book, the poems are presented chronologically, but are also divided into three sections.

In the first section, you will delve into the everyday life of Al-Andalus, as depicted by its poets. From the various cities bustling with activity to the serene gardens and palaces, their words paint a vivid picture of the vibrant society that flourished here. Love, wisdom, and spiritual yearning permeate their verses, reflecting the diverse experiences of the people who called this land home.

The second part of this collection is more sombre, and deals with religious poetry or poetry regarding the Arabic Andalusian perspective on death. These are thoughtful poems, considering sin and forgiveness, and the juxtaposition of an immortal soul within a mortal body.

Finally, in the third part of this collection you will find the sombre elegies and poetic laments for cities and lands lost to conquest. Among the ruins of once-mighty fortresses, these verses mourn the passing of an era and the displacement of its people. These ultimately tell the story of the last years of Al-Andalus, before its final destruction at the fall of Granada in 1492.

Throughout the history of Al-Andalus, poetry was a poignant expression of the Andalusian experience. In the third part of this book you see the poignant end of Al-Andalus. In the verses of poets such as ar-Rundi, you can glimpse the anguish and defiance of a people grappling with the loss of their homeland. Elegies mourned the fall of once-great cities like Cordoba and Seville, while odes celebrated the resilience of Al-Andalusian culture in the face of adversity. These poems served as both a lament for the past and a rallying cry for the future, capturing the spirit of a society struggling to preserve its identity in the midst of a seemingly endless war. Through their words, you can still bear witness to the profound impact of the Reconquista on the hearts and minds of those who lived through it, forever immortalized in the annals of Andalusian poetry.

The translation and adaptation of these poems has purposely been focused on keeping a lyrical feel to the lines, as it was not uncommon for Andalusian poetry to be originally set to music. Rhymes could also impart meaning; for example, some laments were written as nuniyyas, a type of poem where the final line would end with an ‘n’ sound, intended as a mournful sounding rhyme. To this end, these poems have been translated as faithfully as possible, while also building a lyrical form for them in English - so the meaning is preserved, while the lines may not be translated exactly and literally as they appeared in their original Arabic. This was a trade off that had to be made to allow new rhymes to work in English, and has breathed new life into the often bland bones of translated works. Where possible, the original Arabic has been consulted to influence the rhyming scheme.

This collection of poems is an attempt to bridge the gap between past and present, connecting us to the rich heritage of Al-Andalus and the enduring power of poetry to transcend the ages. Through these translations, the voices and whispers of Al-Andalus, some of which fell silent over a thousand years ago, can still call out and touch our hearts today.