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Abstract

This article explores the symbolic and mystical portrayal of nature in the poetry of Saib Tabrizi, a seminal figure of the Safavid era and a leading exponent of the Indian Style (Sabk-e-Hindi) in Persian literature. Unlike traditional descriptive nature poetry, Saib employs natural elements as metaphors and symbols to express profound spiritual, philosophical, and psychological truths. Through an analysis of recurring images such as bubbles, clouds, seasons, and moonlight, the study reveals how Saib's internal world and metaphysical insights are projected onto the natural landscape. Drawing parallels with European Symbolist poets and thinkers like Coleridge, the article underscores how for Saib, nature is not merely an external reality but a reflective mirror of the poet's soul. His vision transforms simple phenomena into carriers of complex ideas, embodying Sufi notions such as divine unity and inner awakening. Nature in Saib's poetry is thus both aesthetic and epistemological.
Keywords: Saib Tabrizi, Persian Poetry, Nature Imagery, Sabk-e-Hindi, Symbolism, Mysticism, Sufism, Symbolist Poets, Inner World, Metaphysical Expression, Nature and Spirituality