The Poems of Surâqah b. Mirdâs al-Bâriqî—An Umayyad Poet

Extract

Surâqah B. Mirdâs al-Bâkiqî was a contemporary of the great trio, al-Akhṭal, al-Farazdaq, and Jarîr, whose names stand out so pre-eminently in the list of the Umayyad bards that all contemporary poets are thrown into the shade. Thus there is no article on our poet in the Aghâdnî, and he would have passed quite unnoticed but for his taking part in the literary duel between al-Farazdaq and Jarir. The public scolding match () in which these two masters were engaged for many years attracted our poet and, like the well-known Akhṭal, he, too, joined in the fray with his sympathies for al-Farazdaq. The anecdotes relating to the “flytings” (), which he and Jarir composed against each other, as narrated on the authority of Abû. 'Ubaidah, will be found interesting. It is said that Muhammad b. 'Umair b. 'Utârid al-Dârimî, a noble, offered four thousand dirhams and a horse to the poet who could compose a poem giving al-Farazdaq preference over Jarîr. Of all poets Surâqah, who had already composed some invective upon Jarîr, took up the challenge and produced a piece of lampoon which was carried to Jarîr, requiring him to make a reply forthwith. Jarîr tried throughout the whole night but failed. At break of day, however, his poetical genius came to his aid and the sharp lampoon that this great poet then produced is said to have silenced Surâqah against Jarîr once for all.