A Selection of Ghazals From the Diwan of Sulejman Mezaki

Ghazals Rhyming in Alif

Abstract

Sulejman Mezaki, a Bosniak poet from 17th century, is one of the most prominent representatives of the so-called classical period of Diwan literature in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was mentioned by his contemporaries, tezkira authors, and later his name is brought up in histories or literature overviews in Ottoman language, as well as in encyclopedias up to the modern age. His popularity in the poet circles of the time is testified by numerous chronograms written by his contemporaries after his death.

His whole poetical oeuvre carries the imprint of the teachings of the Mawlawi dervish tariqat he himself belonged to. From the rich Divan containing 29 qasidas, 441 ghazals, 9 tarihs, 12 mufrads, and one qit’a, rubaiyat and musaddas, all of which is preserved in Istanbul, Süleymaniye (Fatih) Kütüphânesi, No 3873, the ghazals in alif are presented here (fol. 35b-38a).

From the several ghazels of Sulejman Mezaki, the characteristics of the so-called Indian literary style (sebk-i hindi) can be observed. These characteristics influenced Diwan literature of the 17th century, and thus influenced Bosniak poets of the time. Long compounds, unusual comparations, complex associations and original images, abstraction and ambiguity, sometimes reaching the borders of incomprehensibility, present difficulty in understanding this poet’s verses. One should also mention the usage of the lexical units in the context of their tasawwuf professional register which presents an important factor of the correct understanding of verses.