Silver Winner, Focused Topic-Translation, Nautilus Book Awards

Delicate and tough, a crafted danger, full of wit as well as abandon, Hafiz's lyric is one of the rare mysteries of world literature.
--Coleman Barks, author and translator of The Essential Rumi

I have this gem and it's looking for a beholder

Hafiz of Shiraz (also known as Hafez) remains the most beloved name in all of Persian literature. Indeed, his mystic, lyric poetry is cherished as one of the great achievements of world literature, on a par with Dante, Goethe, and Shakespeare.

Hafiz's Little Book of Life is a lush collection of more than 250 selections from his lifework. Also included is a vivid portrait of his life and times, translators' notes, an extensive glossary, a bibliography, and an appendix on Hafiz as an oracle. Here are classic soaring flights of fancy and solid life lessons--made new by two award-winning translators.

This is the perfect introduction to Hafiz for all lovers of poetry and seekers of love, spirituality, and wisdom. Let the unforgettable words of Hafiz shine through you with their love, profundity, wit, and celebration of life.

This is translation as a real 'carrying-across, ' as art, not artifact . . . this one drops the reader/listener directly into their own soul-struggle. Immerse yourself and be transformed! --Neil Douglas-Klotz, author of The Sufi Book of Life and A Little Book of Sufi Stories

From the first page, you are invited to settle into a sublime sanctuary and partake in enchantment until you feel the Beloved inside your beating heart and running through your veins. --Ari Honarvar, author of A Girl Called Rumi

Authoritative edition of Hafiz's most important poems, including original Persian and brilliant English translations

Recent translations of Hafiz have been controversial. Omid Safi, an Islamic studies scholar at Duke, notes that there are so many fake translations of Hafiz floating around, offering 'versions' that have no earthly connection to anything that the Persian poet and sage of Shiraz named Hafiz ever said. Elizabeth Gray offers us something different: poetic translations rooted in close readings of the original Persian, developed in consultation with a native speaker scholar.

A ghazal is usually understood to mean lyric poetry concerned with love. But what had been a courtly love lyric concerned with wine and physical beauty became, in the hands of Sufis like Farid ud-Díiacute;n 'Attar and Jalal ud-Dín Rumi, a way to describe a mystic's relationship with God. Ghazals also became a means of veiling from theological and political conservatives the Sufi belief in the possibility of an intuitive, personal union with God.

Háaacute;fiz became the greatest of all Sufi poets, called the Tongue of the Invisible and the Interpreter of Mysteries. His command of the ghazal's traditional imagery and themes blends eroticism, mysticism, and panegyric into verse of unsurpassed beauty. His eighty ghazals are presented in this book. Persian originals appear on facing pages to brilliant English translations of Gray and Anvar.

In the afterword, Persian scholar Daryush Shayegan notes how there is no antagonism between the earthly wine and the divine wine, just as there is none between profane love and the love of God, since one is the necessary initiation to the other.

The Persian poet Hafiz (1315 - 1390) is a literary wonder with unmatched spiritual insights. Now, renowned artist and writer Rassouli dives heart first into the Divan of Hafiz to offer you fresh translations and glorious color illustrations so you can take your own journey into the Wisdom of Madness. Printed on premium cream-colored paper.

Hafiz was a Persian lyric poet (1315/17-1390) whose collected works, or Divan, are as sacred to most Iranians as the Qur'an. He was highly acclaimed during his lifetime, and is by far the most popular poet in Iran, where they celebrate Hafiz Day on October 12. Although he was influenced by Islam, Hafiz is widely respected by Hindus, Christians and others for his beautiful turn of a phrase and for his regard of the universal soul. The Collected Poems of Hafiz touch on themes of love, faith and exposing hypocrisy, and many people find personal guidance within its pages. Since Hafiz' work was first translated into English in 1771, scholars in the Western world have been conflicted between literal and mystical interpretations of the poems. Nevertheless, they provide fascinating details on life and culture in Persia, and to some, it brings valuable insight toward mysticism and the ineffable.

The 14th century poet Hafiz is one of the most celebrated Persian lyric poets and is still highly regarded to this day. His poems explore the themes of love, the celebration of wine, and exposing the hypocrisy of those who hold themselves out as examples of moral rectitude. This collection includes a selection of forty-three poems translated by Gertrude Lowthian Bell and an introduction to Hafiz and his poems by the translator.

Winner of the Nautilus Awards 2020 in Gold: Gift & Specialty

Vivid translations by Coleman Barks, Robert Bly, Omid Safi, Meher Baba, and others combine with Michael and Saliha Green's stunning illustrations to bring the immortal poetry of the great Persian master Hafiz to life

There is this matter
of the light in my eyes.

If you want to know the Friend,
don't expect elegant arguments!

Demand a blessing
from one who gives you joy.
--Hafiz (tr. Barks)

Hafiz is without peer! exclaimed Goethe. Known as The Tongue of the Hidden Mysteries, Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafiz of Shiraz is the most revered of Persian poets. When the Sun of Infinite Reality dawned in his being, he poured forth mystic verse so sublime it touched the hearts of kings and commoners alike.

Hafiz's poems of intimate divine love spread through the East in his lifetime, then into the West, influencing such luminaries as Emerson, Brahms, Queen Victoria, Nietzsche, and Garcia Lorca. Today, nearly 700 years after his death, the unmatched genius and bold wit of Hafiz continues to ignite hearts and intoxicate souls everywhere.

The Illuminated Hafiz brings together vivid translations by Coleman Barks, Robert Bly, Omid Safi, Meher Baba, Peter Booth, and others with the luminous art of Michael and Saliha Green, weaving them into a stunning contemporary presentation in the tradition of classical Persian illuminated manuscripts and unveiling the mysteries of the path of love.

Come, raise a cup! Join with Hafiz and his incomparable love poems in a holy revel on the journey into light.

Khwāja Shams-ud-Dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfeẓ-e Shīrāzī is commonly known to us as Hafiz, the Persian poet who was born in Shiraz, Iran in either 1315 or 1317. The facts of much of his early life are unknown to us but it is said that, at an early age, he memorised many passages of the Quran and was therefore given the title of Hafiz, which means 'the memoriser or the safe keeper.'

Hafiz mainly wrote lyric poetry or ghazals - an ideal form for expressing the ecstasy of the divine and the intoxicating mystical union with God. He was also outspoken on society's hypocrisy but was supported by patronage during his lifetime from the court of Abu Ishak and succeeding regimes until, towards the end of his life, when he resided at the Court of Timur, more usually known to us as Tamerlane, the conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire in modern day Iran and Central Asia.

Certainly that support enabled Hafiz to devote himself to his writings. Surprisingly there is no definitive version of his collected works (or Dīvān); some editions run to a mere 573 poems others to just shy of a thousand. However, their beauty and wordplay illuminates why Hafiz was admired so much throughout the Islamic world even during his own lifetime. He remains one of the most celebrated of the Persian poets and his influence through poems, proverbs and sayings can be felt to this day. On various holidays, including 12th October in Iran, Hafiz Day is celebrated: Families will open his Dīvān at random and read aloud that poem, using it as a guide to what may happen next in their lives.

Hafiz died in 1390. His mausoleum, Hāfezieh, is located in the Musalla Gardens in Shiraz.

A unique collaboration between a Cistercian monk and a scholar of Islamic translation, this volume offers fresh and distinctive interpretations of works by the spiritual Sufi poet, Hafiz of Shiraz. Combining scholarly precision with keen sensitivity to the mystic contours of the Persian originals, these esoteric verses are rendered into English without forfeiting the artistry or accuracy of the original intent. Knitting together aesthetics and erudition, each poem seeks to be intellectually stimulating and spiritually invigorating. Generated through conversation and exchange, and supplemented with reflective introductions and notes, these poetic translations provide an authentic means of crossing religious and cultural borders, admitting contemporary audiences into the world of Persian Sufism.

Ghazels From The Divan Of Hafiz is a collection of poems by the famous Persian poet, Hafiz. Originally published in 1893, this book contains a selection of ghazals, a form of poetry that consists of rhyming couplets and a refrain, from Hafiz's divan, or collection of poems. The poems in this collection are translated into English by Gertrude Lowthian Bell, a British writer and adventurer who was known for her travels in the Middle East and her translations of Persian literature. Bell's translations aim to capture the beauty and meaning of Hafiz's original Persian poetry, while also making it accessible to English-speaking readers.The poems in Ghazels From The Divan Of Hafiz cover a wide range of themes, including love, spirituality, and the beauty of nature. Hafiz's poetry is known for its use of metaphor and symbolism, and his ghazals often explore the complexities of human emotions and relationships. Overall, Ghazels From The Divan Of Hafiz is a beautiful and insightful collection of poetry that offers readers a glimpse into the world of one of Persia's greatest poets.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

The Persian Sufi poet Hafiz (1326-1390) is a towering figure in Islamic literature--and in spiritual attainment as well. Known for his profound mystical wisdom combined with a sublime sensuousness, Hafiz was the supreme master of a poetic form known as the ghazal (pronounced guzzle), an ode or song consisting of rhymed couplets celebrating divine love. In this selection of his poems, wine and the intoxication it brings are the image that expresses this love in all its joyful abandon, painful longing, bewilderment, and surrender. Through ninety-five free-verse renditions, we gain entry into the mystical world of Hafiz's Winehouse, with its happy minstrels, its bewitching Winebringer, and its companions in drunken longing whose hearts cry out, More wine Thomas Rain Crowe brings a new dimension to our growing appreciation of Hafiz and his wise drunkard's advice to the seekers of God:

In this world of illusion, take nothing other than this cup of wine;
In this playhouse, don't play any games but love.

The Poems Of Shemseddin Mohammed Hafiz Of Shiraz is a collection of poems written by the famous Persian poet Hafiz. Originally published in 1901, this book features a selection of Hafiz's most celebrated works, translated into English for the first time. Hafiz's poetry is renowned for its beauty, depth, and spiritual wisdom, and this collection showcases the full range of his talent. The poems cover a wide range of themes, from love and romance to spirituality and mysticism, and are characterized by their lyrical language, vivid imagery, and profound insights into the human condition. The translator has done an excellent job of capturing the essence of Hafiz's poetry, and the result is a book that will appeal to anyone interested in Persian literature, poetry, or spirituality. Whether you are a longtime fan of Hafiz or a newcomer to his work, The Poems Of Shemseddin Mohammed Hafiz Of Shiraz is a must-read book that will leave you inspired and uplifted.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

A Century of Ghazels, also known as A Hundred Odes, is a collection of poems written by the Persian poet Hafiz. The book, first published in 1875, features a selection of one hundred ghazals (a form of Persian poetry consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain) that have been translated into English. The translations are taken from Hafiz's Diwan, which is a collection of his complete works. The poems in A Century of Ghazels cover a range of themes, including love, spirituality, and nature. Hafiz's writing is known for its lyrical beauty and depth of meaning, and his work has been celebrated throughout the centuries for its ability to capture the essence of Persian culture and society. The translator of this edition is not specified, but it is likely that the work was translated by a British or American scholar in the 19th century. The book provides an important glimpse into the world of Persian poetry and the work of one of its most revered poets.The Diwan Of Hafiz, A Persian Lyrical Poet, Who Flourished In The Fourteenth Century.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Revered as the greatest Persian poet whose verses, still recited and learned by heart in Afghanistan, have inspired people since the fourteenth century. A pure joy.

Ghazels From The Divan Of Hafiz is a collection of poems by the Persian poet Hafiz, translated into English by Gertrude Lowthian Bell. Originally published in 1893, this book contains a selection of ghazals, a form of Persian poetry consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain. Hafiz is renowned for his mystical and romantic poetry, which explores themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition. Bell's translation captures the beauty and complexity of Hafiz's poetry, with each ghazal accompanied by a brief introduction and notes on the translation. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Persian literature, poetry, or spirituality.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

The Poems of Shemseddin Mohammed Hafiz of Shiraz is a collection of poetry by the renowned Persian poet, Hafiz. Originally published in 1901, this book contains a comprehensive selection of Hafiz's poems, which are known for their beauty, lyricism, and spiritual depth.Hafiz's poetry is deeply rooted in Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam that emphasizes the pursuit of a direct personal experience of God. His poems often explore themes of love, devotion, and the search for spiritual truth, and are characterized by their use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and wordplay.This edition of The Poems of Shemseddin Mohammed Hafiz of Shiraz features a translation of Hafiz's work into English by Gertrude Lowthian Bell, a prominent British writer and traveler who was known for her knowledge of Persian culture and language. Bell's translation captures the essence of Hafiz's poetry, bringing his words to life for a new generation of readers.Overall, The Poems of Shemseddin Mohammed Hafiz of Shiraz is a must-read for anyone interested in Persian poetry, Sufism, or spiritual literature. With its timeless themes and beautiful language, Hafiz's poetry continues to inspire and resonate with readers around the world.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Ghazels From The Divan Of Hafiz is a collection of poetry written by the Persian poet Hafiz, originally published in 1893. The book contains a selection of ghazals, a form of poetry consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, that explore themes of love, spirituality, and mysticism. Hafiz's poetry is known for its lyrical beauty and depth of emotion, and has been highly influential in both Persian and Western literature. The translator, Gertrude Lowthian Bell, was a British writer and archaeologist who was highly respected for her knowledge of Persian language and culture. Her translation of Hafiz's work is considered one of the most accurate and faithful renditions of the poet's work in English. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in Persian poetry, mysticism, or the beauty of language.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Ghazels From The Divan Of Hafiz is a collection of poems by the Persian poet Hafiz, translated into English by Gertrude Bell and published in 1893. The book contains 227 ghazals, a form of Persian poetry consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, that explore themes of love, spirituality, and the human experience. Hafiz is known for his use of metaphors and allegories, and his poems often contain references to Sufi mysticism and Islamic theology. Bell's translation aims to capture the beauty and complexity of Hafiz's original work while making it accessible to an English-speaking audience. The book includes an introduction by Bell that provides context for Hafiz's life and work, as well as notes on the translation and the poems themselves. Ghazels From The Divan Of Hafiz is a timeless work of poetry that continues to inspire readers and poets around the world.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

In his poetry, Hafiz has inscribed undeniable truth indelibly ... Hafiz has no peer! -- Goethe

Poems of Wine and Tavern Romance includes 103 pioneering poems by the medieval Persian poet and Sufi monk Muhammad Shemseddin Hafiz (ca. 1320-1389). With the rich complexity of a character in Shakespeare, Hafiz celebrates his pleasures and longed-for lovers in a context of Qur'anic narrative allusion, allowing his poems to hint at stages in a spiritual quest.

First translated into German in 1814, by Joseph von Hammer, Hafiz's poetry initiated a revolution in the mind of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Hafiz became, for Goethe, a Muslim mentor. Hafiz's love poems are mainly directed to the men he met in taverns, but Hammer often changed the gender of the addressees to placate contemporary opinion in Germany. Hammer rendered Hafiz's poetry in a variety of newly invented verse forms as well as traditional ones carried over from ancient Greece and Rome, which he felt would make them more acceptable to readers acquainted with such themes in Greek and Latin verse.

Though always faithful to Hammer's pioneering poetic forms, Martin Bidney's new translations restore the genders as they appeared in the original Persian. In his poetic replies to Hafiz, Bidney clarifies the implications of Hafiz's Qur'anic allusions and Islamic legendary references, and he also elucidates parallels between medieval Persian and various Western cultures by introducing newly translated relevant passages from such works as Carmina Burana, Ovid's Amores, and Horace's Odes.

Hammer's translation of Hafiz was already a pioneering West-East synthesis when it inspired Goethe to try to top it in his own experimental West-East Divan (translated by Bidney in 2010), and Bidney's translation of Hafiz's groundbreaking, varied, verbally colorful, and melodious poetry will delight the general reader and fascinate the scholar.

Ghazals Inspired by Hafiz's Ghazals by Paul Smith There is really no equivalent to the ghazal (pronounced guz'el) in English poetry. As a matter of fact, the ghazal is a unique form and its origin has been argued about for many centuries. Some say that the first was composed by Adam, the first poet and Perfect Master. Many ghazals Paul Smith composed while translating the Divan of Hafiz he incorporated into his 3 volume novel/biography Hafiz of Shiraz... as those of Muhammad Gulandam. Recently he published a book of ghazals 'Beloved & Lover' inspired by couplets and first lines given by his Spiritual Master Meher Baba (Huma) and in this book he has composed ghazals with the first couplet from his translations of the ghazals of Hafiz, that are also mainly about Meher Baba. Introduction: About Paul Smith, Life & Work of Meher Baba, The Ghazal, Life & Times & Poems of Hafiz. Correct form has been achieved. 293 pages.COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'.It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran.Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith. Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of works into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz. Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author, translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Lalla Ded, Rahman Baba, Bulleh Shah, Ghalib, Iqbal and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and 12 screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa Published by New Humanity Books

EIGHT SUFI 'WINEBRINGER' POEMS IN MASNAVI FORM by Nizami, Hafiz, Zargun Khan, Fuzuli, Tahirih, Iqbal, Inayat Khan & Paul Translations & Introduction Paul Smith The Saqi-nama or 'Book of the Winebringer' (Cupbearer) is a genre of poetry where the poet or drinker or seeker or devotee calls upon the saqi (sometimes spelt 'saki') or winebringer or cupbearer or waiter or waitress (Spiritual Master or God) to bring wine whether in the material sense of juice from the grape or in the spiritual sense of it symbolising Truth, Love, Grace, Knowledge, Beauty. This genre was really begun by Nizami (1140-1208) in his famous 'Layla & Majnun' and later in his first of two 'Books of Alexander'. It was completed & perfected in the form of the masnavi (rhyming couplets) by Persia's greatest lyric poet Hafiz of Shiraz in the 14th century. Leading up to this famous poem by Hafiz were many poems in a number of poetic forms of the past by mainly Persian poets of the highest order who used the image of the 'Winebringer' usually in the spiritual sense, this is explored. CONTENTS: The Poetic Genre of the 'Book of the Winebringer' (Saqi-nama), Selected Bibliography, Sufis & their Art and Use of Wine in Poetry, Glossary, The Main Form in the Genre of Saqi-nama (Book of the Winebringeer). THE POETS...Nizami, Hafiz, Zargun Khan, Fuzuli, Tahirih, Iqbal, Inayat Khan and Paul and many others in the Introduction. The correct rhyme-form has been kept in all translations of these beautiful, powerful, honest poems. Appendix on 'Iraqi's two Saqi-nama Tarji-bands. Large Format Paperback 7 x 10 Pages 210 COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'.It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran.Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith. Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi and other poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Ubayd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Lalla Ded, Ghalib, Rahman Baba, Makhfi, and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays Published by New Humanity Books amazon.com/author/smithpa.