ABSTRACT

A poet who lived in Granada in the twelfth century, Ḥafṣa belonged to a noble family and received a superior education, which enabled her to become a teacher later in life. Like Wallādah, she was the lover of a poet, Abū Yafar, and many of her poems take the form of a dialogue with him. For example: Shall I go to your house, or will you come to mine? My heart always goes where you desire. You may be sure you will not be thirsty or hot when you meet me. A fountain fresh and sweet are my lips, and the branches of my braids cast a thick shadow. Answer me quickly, for it would be wrong to make your Butaynah wait, oh, my Yamil.