<![CDATA[This study analyzes the aesthetic elements in the qasida Al-Khuṭwah al-Ākhirah by Nāzik al-Malāʾikah, one of the significant works marking the emergence of the free verse movement (shiʿr al-ḥurr) in the Arab world. The aim of this research is to describe how the aesthetic elements of metaphor, imagery, and rhythm are manifested in the poem, and to explain how these three elements synergistically support the artistic value of the work. This is a library research employing a qualitative approach. The primary analytical framework is based on ʿIzzuddīn Ismāʿīl’s aesthetic theory, using a dual foundation: al-Jamāl al-Fannī (Artistic Aesthetics) to analyze the form (ṣūrah), and al-Jamāl al Nafsī (Psychological Aesthetics) to interpret the meaning (maḍmūn). The findings show that the aesthetic elements are realized through symbolic metaphors (istiʿārah) that visualize internal conditions, such as the “statue of despair”; consistent imagery (khayāl) that builds a melancholic atmosphere through images of darkness and silence; and an organic rhythm (īqāʿ) characteristic of free verse poetry, flowing in harmony with the poet's emotional turmoil. Furthermore, these formal elements collectively enhance the artistic value of the qasida by creating an authentic and profound psychological atmosphere (asās nafsī), elevating the poet’s personal experience into a philosophical reflection (fikrah) on impermanence, the limits of art, and existence.]]>
