In Praise of Old Age: The Use and Modification of Poetic Convention in a poem by Mošeh ibn `Ezra

Abstract

The description of Old Age in Hebrew Andalusian secular poetry closely follows Arabic literary tradition. To the hebrew poet Old Age is, above all, a reason for complaint. In fact the presence in Christian Spain of poems which exalt Old Age's virtues has been considered a sample of the desire to detach itself from the Andalusian influence. Nevertheless, even in al-Andalus we find compositions that, exceptionally, praise Old Age. That is the case of the poem titled "Pittuyeme no 'ar" by Moseh ibn 'Ezra' where the author demonstrates his skill by using the literary tapies of his day as means of expression for his own personal experiences.