A Selection of Gazels From Arif Hikmet-Bey Rizvanbegović Stočević’s Divan

Abstract

The poetic opus of Arif Hikmet-bey Stočević Rizvanbegović (Stolac 1839 - - Istanbul 1903) includes sufi poetry as well, in which the Central place is taken by gazels. Arif Hıkmet-bey’s sufi poetry is characterised by layers that do not show themselves to the reader immediately, but the curtain must be drawn back in order to reach the real essence and motives. The guiding idea in his poetry is the Qur’an, as the beginning and end of philosophic meditation. Arif Hikmet-bey’s gazels abouııd in symbols which are usually condensed and constant in sufi poetry. Beside the heart, the source of spirituality, the primary symbols of Arif Hikmet-bey’s poetry are: vvine, Love, and Beauty.

This paper brings a selection of gazels from Arif Hikmet-bey’s Divan, which to date have not been translated into Bosnian.