New Ghazal Posted: Your face beautifies our mirror, Ghazal 3 from Saadi

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Your face beautifies our mirror, Ghazal 3 from Saadi

Description: This ghazal is a beautiful expression of love and devotion. Saadi employs various poetic devices such as similes, metaphors, and hyperbole to convey the intensity of his feelings.

The Beloved's Beauty: Saadi repeatedly emphasizes the beauty of the beloved, comparing their face to a mirror reflecting pure light.
The Power of Love: The poet is so captivated by the beloved that he is willing to sacrifice his own life.
The Nature of Love: Saadi explores the complex nature of love, including its joys, sorrows, and jealousies.
The Unfairness of Love: The poet complains about the unfairness of love, suggesting that lovers often suffer.

Key themes in this ghazal include:

Love and devotion: The central theme is the poet's intense love for the beloved.
Beauty: The beauty of the beloved is a recurring motif.
The pain and pleasure of love: The ghazal explores both the joys and sorrows of love.
The power of the beloved: The beloved is portrayed as having immense power over the poet.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 35 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 35 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

Until I sleep with you, I will not sleep from weariness,
Until I sleep without you, I will not sleep from sorrow.

Glory be to God, that both nights I am awake.
You discern the difference between these awakenings.

Analysis of the Quatrains

Two Kinds of Sleeplessness: The speaker is unable to sleep both when they are with the beloved and when they are separated.
Weariness and Sorrow: The two states of sleeplessness are caused by different emotions: weariness when with the beloved (perhaps due to spiritual ecstasy) and sorrow when separated.
Divine Awareness: The speaker acknowledges God's awareness of these different states, suggesting a deep faith.
The Beloved as Discerner: The beloved is seen as the ultimate judge, able to understand the nuances of the speaker's experiences.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 34 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 34 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

Since your embrace has been separated from me,
No one has seen me silent from crying.

Do not forget me from your soul, heart, and sight,
For God's sake, do not forget me.

Analysis of the Quatrains

Separation and Longing: The speaker is expressing deep sorrow and longing for the beloved, from whom they have been separated.
The Pain of Separation: The image of the speaker crying silently emphasizes the intensity of their grief.
The Plea for Remembrance: The speaker begs the beloved not to forget them, appealing to the divine for the beloved's mercy.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 33 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 33 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

It has become late, but for the travelers,
There is no satiety except for the wise.

What of the day, the night, the morning of the brave,
What of the wolf, the sheep, and the lamb for the lions.

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Journey of Life: The "travelers" here represent human souls on their journey through life.
Satiety and Wisdom: Only the wise can truly find fulfillment or satiety, suggesting that true wisdom comes from spiritual understanding.
Time and Courage: The phrases about day, night, morning, and the brave suggest that time and courage are constant companions on the journey of life.
The Animal Kingdom as Metaphor: The reference to wolves, sheep, and lions could be a metaphor for different aspects of human nature or different spiritual states.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 32 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 32 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

My beloved, with tenderness and grace, has embroidered me,
A tapestry woven from my veins and skin.

My body is a patched robe, and within it is my Sufi heart,
The whole world is a monastery, and my beloved is its Sheikh.

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Beloved as Creator: The beloved is depicted as an artist, creating a masterpiece from the speaker's body. This suggests a deep connection and intimacy with the divine.
The Body as a Tapestry: The body is seen as a beautiful and intricate creation, woven with divine love.
The Sufi Heart: The speaker identifies as a Sufi, someone seeking divine knowledge and love. The heart is the center of this spiritual quest.
The World as a Monastery: The entire world is seen as a place of spiritual practice, and the beloved is the spiritual guide.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 31 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 31 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

I have placed my heart on the path of calamity,
Especially for you, I have opened my heart.

Today, the wind brought me your scent,
As a thank you, I gave my heart to the wind.

Analysis of the Quatrains

Embracing Calamity: The speaker has willingly placed their heart on a path filled with trials and tribulations, suggesting a deep commitment to their spiritual journey.
Love as the Motivation: The specific reason for this is to be closer to the beloved, indicating a deep love and devotion.
The Scent of the Beloved: The wind carrying the beloved's scent symbolizes a spiritual connection or a divine sign.
Offering the Heart to the Wind: This act can be interpreted as a surrender to divine will or a complete devotion to the beloved.

New Novel Description Posted: The Scorched Earth

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The Scorched Earth

The Scorched Earth by Ahmad Mahmoud is a profound novel that examines the devastating impact of war, displacement, and social injustice on ordinary lives. Set during the Iran-Iraq War, this powerful narrative explores how the conflict transforms and challenges the characters’ relationships, beliefs, and identities as they struggle to survive…

New Novel Description Posted: The Neighbors

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The Neighbors

The Neighbors by Ahmad Mahmoud is an influential novel in Persian literature, capturing the political tensions and social struggles of Iran in the early 1950s. Set against the backdrop of the oil nationalization movement and Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh's eventual overthrow, Mahmoud's story provides a powerful narrative about coming of…

New Novel Description Posted: ymphony of the Dead

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ymphony of the Dead

Symphony of the Dead by Abbas Maroufi is a dark, haunting novel that explores themes of family dysfunction, personal despair, and societal decay in pre-revolutionary Iran. Often compared to works of Kafka and Faulkner, Maroufi’s novel employs a fragmented narrative structure and multiple perspectives to create a powerful, multi-layered story.…

New Novel Description Posted: The Book of Fate

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The Book of Fate

The Book of Fate by Parinoush Saniee is a captivating, heartfelt novel that traces the life of a young Iranian woman whose dreams and desires are shaped and constrained by family expectations and political upheaval. Initially banned in Iran, the novel has become widely celebrated for its unflinching portrayal of…

New Novel Description Posted: Censoring an Iranian Love Story

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Censoring an Iranian Love Story

Censoring an Iranian Love Story by Shahriar Mandanipour is an inventive, multilayered novel that explores love, censorship, and creative freedom in contemporary Iran. Published in 2009, it follows a writer’s attempt to craft a love story within the constraints of Iranian censorship, interweaving a fictional romance with the writer’s own…

New Novel Description Posted: Women Without Men

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Women Without Men

Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur is a poignant and surreal novel that explores the lives of five Iranian women seeking freedom and self-discovery in a society constrained by strict patriarchal norms. Originally published in 1989, the novel’s candid exploration of women’s issues and its defiance of traditional gender roles…

New Novel Description Posted: The Colonel

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The Colonel

The Colonel by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi is a powerful and darkly intense novel set in the turbulent political landscape of post-revolutionary Iran. Originally written in Persian in the 1980s but not published in Iran due to its controversial subject matter, The Colonel offers a harrowing look at the Iranian Revolution’s impact…

New Sokhanvar Posted: Ayyūqī Ayyughi (Poet)

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Ayyūqī Ayyughi (Poet)

About ʿAyyūqī: ʿAyyūqī, an 11th-century Persian poet, is best known for his romantic poem Varqa o Golšāh, a love story steeped in the medieval Persian literary tradition. His work, believed to have been influenced by Ferdowsī’s Shāhnāma, combines Persian philology and narrative innovations, such as the interspersion of ghazals within…

New Novel Description Posted: Savushun (A Persian Requiem)

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Savushun (A Persian Requiem)

Savushun (A Persian Requiem), written by Simin Daneshvar and published in 1969, is often regarded as one of the most significant modern Persian novels. As one of the first major works by an Iranian woman, it provides an intimate and compelling portrait of Iranian society, particularly the experiences of women,…

New Novel Description Posted: The Blind Owl (Buf-e Kur)

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The Blind Owl (Buf-e Kur)

The Blind Owl (Buf-e Kur) by Sadegh Hedayat is one of the most haunting and influential works of Persian literature. First published in 1937, this novel is celebrated for its complex exploration of psychological despair, existential angst, and surrealism. Written in a deeply poetic, stream-of-consciousness style, The Blind Owl immerses…

New Novel Description Posted: My Uncle Napoleon

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My Uncle Napoleon

My Uncle Napoleon, written by Iraj Pezeshkzad in 1973, is a beloved classic of Iranian literature. It’s often called the “Iranian Don Quixote” for its humorous, satirical take on family dynamics, politics, and social norms. Set in a large family home in 1940s Tehran, the novel centers around a boy…

New Sokhanvar Posted: Sheikh Abul Qasim Hasan (Onsori Balkhi)

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Sheikh Abul Qasim Hasan (Onsori Balkhi)

Onsori Balkhi, also known as Abul Qasim Hasan Unsuri Balkhi, was a celebrated Persian poet of the 10th and early 11th centuries. Born in Balkh (in present-day Afghanistan), he lived during the golden age of Persian poetry under the Ghaznavid dynasty and served as the chief court poet for the…

New Sokhanvar Posted: Sheikh Abu Mansur Daghighi Toosi (Daghighi)

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Sheikh Abu Mansur Daghighi Toosi (Daghighi)

Abu Mansur Daghighi Toosi, commonly known as Daghighi, was a Persian poet of the 10th century, born in Tus (in modern-day Iran). He is best known as an early Persian epic poet and as a forerunner to the legendary Ferdowsi, whose Shahnameh (Book of Kings) became the definitive epic of…

New Sokhanvar Posted: Sheikh Abu Sa’id ibn Abi al-Khayr (Abu Saeed)

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Sheikh Abu Sa’id ibn Abi al-Khayr (Abu Saeed)

Abu Saeed Abulkheir (Abu Sa’id ibn Abi al-Khayr), born in 967 in Mayhana, Khorasan (in modern-day Turkmenistan), was a highly influential Persian Sufi mystic and poet. Known for his deep spiritual insight, wit, and simple but profound verse, Abu Saeed's legacy laid an essential foundation for later Sufi poets, including…

New Sokhanvar Posted: Hakim Jamal ad-Din Abu Muhammad Ilyas ibn Yusuf ibn Zaki (Nezami)

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Hakim Jamal ad-Din Abu Muhammad Ilyas ibn Yusuf ibn Zaki (Nezami)

Nezami Ganjavi, one of the greatest Persian poets and a luminary in Persian literature, was born in Ganja (in present-day Azerbaijan) around 1141 and lived until 1209. His full name was Jamal ad-Din Abu Muhammad Ilyas ibn Yusuf ibn Zaki, but he is most commonly known simply as Nezami. Renowned…

New Lesson Posted: Gender-Neutral Pronouns in Persian

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Gender-Neutral Pronouns in Persian

Overview In Persian, pronouns are entirely gender-neutral, which is unique compared to many languages that assign gender to pronouns. Persian does not distinguish between "he," "she," or "it" as in English or other gendered languages. This simplicity is both practical and reflects the language's structure, emphasizing that gender isn't a…

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 30 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 30 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

With love, our mount has journeyed forth from non-existence,
Our night is illuminated by the wine of union.

From that wine which is not forbidden in our religion,
Until the dawn of non-existence, our lips will not dry.

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Journey of the Soul: The "mount" here symbolizes the soul, and its journey from "non-existence" suggests a spiritual awakening or enlightenment.
The Wine of Union: The "wine" is a metaphor for divine love or spiritual ecstasy. It illuminates the night, suggesting that it brings light and understanding to the soul.
The Forbidden Wine: The wine is not forbidden in the "religion" of love, implying that this spiritual pursuit is not against any divine law.
Eternal Union: The desire for the lips to never dry from this wine suggests a longing for eternal union with the divine.

New Rubaei Posted: Quatrain 29 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

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Quatrain 29 from Rubaiyat of Rumi

Description: English Translation of the Quatrain

O you who have taken a drink from our cup,
You will become so intoxicated that you will see the night as day.

O you who have fled from the door of our faith,
Your ears will be scorched by separation until we are consumed by fire.

Analysis of the Quatrains

The Cup of Love: The "cup" here symbolizes the spiritual path or the teachings of the beloved. Taking a drink suggests being initiated into this spiritual path.
Intoxication and Vision: The intoxication is not literal but spiritual. It refers to a state of divine ecstasy or enlightenment where one perceives reality differently.
Fleeing the Faith: The "faith" here refers to the spiritual path or the love for the beloved. Fleeing suggests a turning away from this path.
The Pain of Separation: The "scorched ears" and "consumed by fire" are metaphors for the intense pain and longing experienced by those separated from the beloved.