The Prosodic Structure in Abdulhadi Al-Soudi’s Diwan Bulbul Al-Afrah

Abstract

This research explores the prosodic and musical dimensions of the Diwan Bulbul Al-Afrah by analyzing its structural rhythms as the foundation of the poetic text. Employing both stylistic and statistical methods, it examines rhythmic phenomena in relation to emotional connotations and catalogs meters, poetic forms, and fragments to determine their prevalence. The study is organized into two main axes: the first addresses the traditional prosodic structure, highlighting the poet’s reliance on Khalilite meters, rhyme, and final consonants; the second focuses on innovation, tracing his attempts to break from rigid patterns through rhythmic variation, couplets, and muwashshahat as evidence of a desire for musical renewal and a synthesis of tradition and modernity. Statistical analysis revealed the dominance of compound meters, reflecting the poet’s preference for extended rhythmic breath and his ability to craft complex structures suited to dense Sufi themes. The findings also show his effort to innovate beyond the Khalilite style, with the use of couplets and muwashshah forms imparting lyrical vitality and rhythmic flexibility that transcend the confines of the single vertical poem.