Dia al-Azzawi

The content of the works are the poems of Al Walada written for ibn Zaydun

Wallada bint al-Mustakfi (11th-century Andalusian princess and poet) is famous for her bold, direct, and intimate poetry, which often challenged the social norms of her time. Her "lover's discourse" is heavily documented in her exchanges with the poet Ibn Zaydun, where she took the initiative to express desire, invite visits, and assert her independence.

Key Themes of Her Lover’s DiscourseActive Desire: Unlike traditional female poetic roles, Wallada was often the initiator, actively pursuing her lover and defying convention.Boldness: Her verses often expressed immense self-confidence and passion.Intimacy: She wrote intimate, direct lines tailored to her lover, such as in one verse where she stated, "I allow my lover to feel my cheek, / And he who craves my kiss, I gladly cede".The Night as Secrecy: She frequently used the setting of the night to signify privacy and the protection of their love.

Wallada’s work remains a powerful example of female agency and romantic expression in medieval Arabic literature.

Themes in Her PoetryAudacious Independence: She frequently defied social standards, such as refusing to wear a veil and openly engaging in literary and romantic pursuits.Passionate Love and Jealousy: Her correspondence with Ibn Zaydun moved from intense passion to bitter, satirical attacks after their falling out.Female Agency: She reversed traditional gender roles by initiating courtship, deciding the time and place of meetings, and acting as a public intellectual through her literary salon.

Only nine of her poems are believed to have survived, eight of which pertain to her tumultuous relationship with Ibn Zaydun.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallada_bint_al-Mustakfi#:~:text=One example of Wallada's work,haired, and blue-eyed.