Stylistic Shift in the Poetry of Buland al-Haydari

Abstract

Style shift in perspective is one of the most prominent artistic techniques employed by poets of both classical and modern times. This technique enriches the text, elevating it beyond the confines of directness and rhetoric. Therefore, this study examines the aesthetics of shift in perspective in the poetry of Buland al-Haydari. The aim of this study and analysis is to understand and clarify the text through its constituent elements by delving into its world, illuminating it, revealing its linguistic secrets, interpreting its structural system and arrangement, and grasping the relationships within it, without merely explaining vocabulary or converting verses from poetry to prose.

The poetry of Al-Haydari was selected for analysis, focusing on its expressive and impactful use within the poetic contexts where the figure of speech known as "shifting the focus" (iltifat) is employed. This article adopts a descriptive and analytical approach to reveal how the text deviates from standard language or violates familiar phrasing in everyday usage. The aim is to understand the artistic value of the contemporary poet's work, the extent of his rhetorical creativity, his ability to apply the authentic concept of rhetoric to his literary output, and the rhetorical purposes of this shift in focus. A key characteristic of this study is its engagement with the content of modern poetry, mirroring the approach taken in studies of classical Arabic poetry. Among the most prominent stimuli that emerged in the poetry through the study of different types of shift in focus are hyperbole, directness, specification, and drawing the reader's attention.