Sound Rhythm in the Ode "Balqis" by Nizar Qibbani

Modern ode depends on two fundamental factors, rhythm and meter in shaping its musical structure. Sound rhythm is a verbal tool with which the poets express their feelings and emotions and transfer it to the reader. Nizar Qibbani, contemporary Syrian poet has used this expressive method in his odes especially the famous ode "Balqis". He composed this ode in memory of his wife Balqis Ravi who was killed in bomb explosion of Iraq embassy in Beirut. The rhythms created by order of words are observed abundantly in this ode. The present paper has investigated metrical devices in the ode through a descriptive- analytical approach. The most important conclusion of this discussion is that Nizar Qibbani has been able to change phonetic level of words. He not only considered external rhyme of the ode but also had special attention to rhythm caused by rhymes density, rhythmic words, words repetition and order caused by words arrangement. The above mentioned elements altogether have given dramatic musical quality to the ode. The poet has been able to offer pleasant and calming rhythm to this ode through rhyme diversity and other sound elements and so monotony has been diverted and this feature has been appeared in such odes.