Because of their artfully arranged structure, these bits of poetry could not be construed, in some simple way, as spontaneously reveal- ing what was otherwise hidden, but true, sentiment. Abu-Lughod did not find, either, that such use of ghinna¯was reflected resistance to the political status quo, norms, or customs of the community. Those who used them remained as committed as ever to their own, and their lineage’s, honor, and as ready as before to obey elders. What ghinna¯was did make possible, Abu-Lughod concluded, was the depiction of the self as able to creatively master strong divergent feelings – a