Safiyya al-Baghdadiyya ( ar, صفية البغدادية) was a

Medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

Arabic poet writing during the 12th Century CE. This late period of the

Abbasids The Abbasid Caliphate ( or ; ar, الْخِلَافَةُ الْعَبَّاسِيَّة, ') was the third caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib ...

has been called a Golden Age which 'created a liberal, but elite, society keen to enjoy Allah's earthly gifts'. The diwans (collected poems) of female poets were not as well recorded, and little is known about al-Baghdadiyya's life. Her poem 'I am the wonder' is collected in Abdulla al-Udhari's ''Classical Poems by Arab Women'' (1999). Al-Udhari notes in the book that 'Nothing is known about the poet'. The poem demonstrates al-Baghdadiyya's liberal outlook and remarkable self-confidence:

''I am the wonder of the world, the ravisher of hearts and minds.''
''Once you’ve seen my stunning looks, you’re a fallen man.''

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