Hafiz

HAFIZ: SELECTED POEMSTranslation, Introduction Paul SmithPersia's greatest exponent of the ghazal Hafiz (1320-139o) became a Perfect Master (Qutub), was twice exiled from his beloved Shiraz for his criticism of rulers and false Sufi masters and hypocritical clergy. His Divan shows he composed in nearly all forms. As with his ghazals, his masnavis, qasidas, qita's, ruba'is and other poems are sometimes mystical and sometimes critical of the hypocrisy of his times. Included in the Introduction is the Life and Times and Poetry of Hafiz and a history of the various forms. Selected Bibliography. Glossary. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these immortal four-line poems. 226 Pages.Goethe: "In his poetry Hafiz inscribed undeniable truth indelibly! He has no peer!"Gertrude Bell: "It is as if his mental Eye, endowed with wonderful acuteness of vision, had penetrated into those provinces of thought which we of a later age were destined to inhabit."Meher Baba: "There is no equal to Hafiz in poetry. He was a Perfect Master ... His Divan is the best book in the world because it engenders feelings which ultimately lead to illumination." 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 in English 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 and translator of over 80 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, Mahsati, Nesimi, Baba Farid, Yunus Emre, Mu'in, Bulleh Shah, Shah Latif, Lalla Ded, Mahsati, Khushal Khan Khattak and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, children's books, biographies and screenplays.