On Feb. 7, 2024, 1:36 p.m. hamed:
Modern Persian poetry is not only about mystic concepts and spirituality, but also about the social and historical realities of the Persian-speaking world. Many poets used their verses to comment on the political events and issues of their times, such as wars, invasions, revolutions, tyranny, justice, and patriotism. Some of the poets who expressed political views in their poetry are:
Nima Yushij (1895-1960): The founder of the New Poetry movement, which broke away from the classical forms and themes of Persian poetry and introduced free verse, modern imagery, and social criticism. Nima Yushij was influenced by the Constitutional Revolution of 1906-1911 and the nationalist movement of the 1920s. He also opposed the dictatorship of Reza Shah and the Pahlavi dynasty. He wrote poems that reflected his political and cultural views, such as Afsaneh (The Legend), Zemestan (Winter), and Ay Shab (O Night).
Forugh Farrokhzad (1935-1967): The most influential female poet of modern Iran, who challenged the patriarchal and conservative norms of Iranian society and culture. Forugh Farrokhzad was inspired by the social and political changes of the 1950s and 1960s, such as the nationalization of oil, the coup d’etat of 1953, and the land reform. She also supported the women’s rights movement and the cultural modernization of Iran. She wrote poems that expressed her personal and political feelings, such as Tavalodi Digar (Another Birth), Osyan (Rebellion), and Vahshat-e Doodkeshi (The Horror of Snuffing Out).
Ahmad Shamlou (1925-2000): The leading poet of the social and political poetry movement, which aimed to raise the awareness and consciousness of the Iranian people and to resist the oppression and injustice of the regime. Ahmad Shamlou was influenced by the Marxist and socialist ideologies of the 1940s and 1950s, as well as the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-1988. He also advocated for the rights and freedoms of the ethnic and religious minorities, the workers, and the intellectuals. He wrote poems that addressed the political and social issues of his time, such as Dar Ayeneh (In the Mirror), Bagh-e Ayeneh (The Garden of Mirrors), and Ketab-e Kucheh (The Book of the Street).