Abstract
The Candle in Divan Poetry and Cem Sultan’s Ghazal With The Redif “Şem‘ (Candle)”
Since candle is one of the basic lighting tools, it was one of the objects frequently used in daily life. The candle has different shapes depending on the intended use and construction. There are also other objects such as “candle scissors (mıkraz)” and candle sticks that function together with candles. Divan poets who put many objects of daily life in to the rich analogy and imagination of divan poetry have not forgotten the candle. The candle has been handled with various analogies due to its shape and characteristics in divan poetry. One of the most common of these interests is the story of Şem’ ü Pervâne, which has been the subject of mesnevis, in which the small butterfly revolves around the candle.
Divan poets sometimes imagined candle as a person. The body of the candle has been thought as human height and body; candle wick as human soul; it’s flame, as human face; melting drops as tears; it’s smoke as ah (wailing). These different metaphors and dreams related to the candle have been revealed in more detail especially in the poems with the redif “şem‘”in the divans.
After discussing the candles and elements related to candles used in divan poetry in our article, we will examine and evaluate Cem Sultan’s ghazel of 21 couplets which has the redif “şem‘ (candle)”. In this study, we will show which analogy and images about candles are used in ghazals.
Keywords
Divan poetry, candle, ghazal, Cem Sultan.