Honor the pioneers of Persian literature, whose works continue to inspire and enrich generations of readers worldwide. #PersianLiteraturePioneers #LiteraryIcons
Discover the transformative power of Persian literature, where a single poem or passage can spark new thoughts and perspectives. #PersianLiteratureInspiration #PoetryAsTherapy
Embark on a journey through the linguistic wonders of Persian literature, where words weave intricate tapestries of sound and meaning. #PersianLanguage #PersianLiteratureVocabulary
Celebrate the enduring legacy of Persian literature, a testament to the human spirit's ability to create beauty and meaning. #PersianLiteratureHeritage #ClassicalPersianLiterature
Discover the power of Persian storytelling, where tales of love, adventure, and moral lessons transport you to another world. #PersianStorytelling #Golestan #Masnavi
Immerse yourself in the ethereal beauty of Persian poetry, where metaphors dance and emotions flow like a cascading river. #PersianPoetry #Ferdowsi #Khayam
Delve into the enchanting world of Persian literature, a rich tapestry of poetry, prose, and storytelling that has captivated readers for centuries. #PersianLiterature #Shahnameh #Rudaki
One of Hafez’s most famous poems is The Sun Can Rise and Set (or The Sun Never Says), which is often quoted as a message of generosity, gratitude, and service. It is a part of his Divan, a collection of his surviving poems probably compiled after his death. The poem begins with these lines:
Even after all this time The sun never says to the earth, “You owe me.” Look what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky
The poem goes on to praise the sun for its selfless and constant giving, and to urge the reader to follow its example and serve others without expecting anything in return.
Hafez, or Khwaja Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi, was a 14th-century Persian poet who is widely admired for his mastery of the ghazal, a poetic form that consists of a series of couplets that share a common rhyme and meter. Hafez’s ghazals are renowned for their beauty, elegance, and subtlety, and their use of imagery, symbolism, and allusion. Hafez’s poetry reflects his profound knowledge of Persian culture, literature, and religion, as well as his personal experiences of love, friendship, and spirituality. Hafez’s poetry is widely read and memorized by Iranians, and his tomb in Shiraz is a popular pilgrimage site.
Nima Yushij: He was a 20th-century poet who is considered the father of modern Persian poetry. He broke away from the classical style and introduced new forms, structures, and themes to Persian poetry. He experimented with free verse, imagery, and symbolism, and influenced many other poets of his generation and later. He wrote poems on topics such as nature, society, politics, and culture.
Omar Khayyam: He was a 11th- and 12th-century Persian poet, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher. He is best known for his rubaiyat, or quatrains, which are short poems that consist of four lines with a specific rhyme scheme. Omar Khayyam’s rubaiyat are remarkable for their originality, wit, and skepticism, and their expression of his views on life, death, fate, and free will. Omar Khayyam’s rubaiyat were popularized in the West by the 19th-century English poet Edward FitzGerald, who translated and adapted them into English.
Ferdowsi: He is perhaps Iran’s most famous poet, credited for writing the Shahnameh, the national epic of the Persian-speaking world and the longest work of epic poetry ever written, composed of more than 60,000 verses. The Shahnameh narrates the history and legends of Iran from the creation of the world to the Islamic conquest. It is a source of pride and identity for Iranians, and a universal work of art that explores themes such as heroism, love, justice, and fate.
One of Rumi’s most famous poems is The Guest House, which is often recited in mindfulness circles. It is a reminder not to resist the thoughts and emotions passing through you, but to meet them with courage, warmth, and respect. The poem begins with these lines:
This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.
Rumi, or Jalal al-Din Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, mystic, and founder of the Mevlevi order of Sufism. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of all time, and his works have been translated into many languages and influenced many literary and spiritual traditions. Rumi’s poetry is characterized by its lyrical, musical, and ecstatic style, and its expression of love, joy, and longing for the divine.
A Cup of Sin: Selected Poems: This is a selection of poems by Simin Behbahani, known as the lioness of Iran. She wrote poems in the classical form, but with a modern and innovative language. She addressed themes such as democracy, human rights, women’s issues, and the Iranian Revolution. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature twice, and received many international awards and honors.
Another Birth and Other Poems: This is a collection of poems by Forough Farrokhzad, one of the most influential and controversial poets of Iran. She wrote poems in the free verse style, and expressed her personal and emotional experiences, such as love, loneliness, rebellion, and desire. She challenged the conservative norms of Iranian society, and faced censorship and criticism for her bold and honest voice.
The Mirror of My Heart: A Thousand Years of Persian Poetry by Women: This is a new anthology of verse by women poets writing in Persian, most of whom have never been translated into English before. It covers various themes, genres, and periods, from the 10th century to the present day. The book is introduced and translated by Dick Davis, an acclaimed scholar and translator of Persian literature.
Simin Behbahani: She was a 20th- and 21st-century poet from Tehran, Iran, who is known as the lioness of Iran. She wrote poems in the classical form, but with a modern and innovative language. She addressed themes such as democracy, human rights, women’s issues, and the Iranian Revolution. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature twice, and received many international awards and honors.
Forough Farrokhzad: She was a 20th-century poet from Tehran, Iran, who is one of the most influential and controversial poets of Iran. She wrote poems in the free verse style, and expressed her personal and emotional experiences, such as love, loneliness, rebellion, and desire. She challenged the conservative norms of Iranian society, and faced censorship and criticism for her bold and honest voice.
Parvin E’tesami: She was a 20th-century poet from Tabriz, Iran, who is regarded as the greatest female poet of modern Iran. She wrote poems in the traditional form, but with a social and moral message. She addressed topics such as women’s rights, education, poverty, and justice.
Rābi‘ah Balkhī: She was a 10th-century poet from Balkh, Afghanistan, who is considered the first woman poet in Persian literature. She wrote love poems in the classical style, and is said to have died of a broken heart after being betrayed by her lover.
Modern Persian literature: This is the period of the development of Persian literature in the 19th and 20th centuries, influenced by the social, political, and cultural changes that occurred in Iran and the Persian-speaking world. This period witnessed the emergence of new genres, such as novel, short story, drama, essay, and journalism, as well as new styles and movements, such as constitutionalism, nationalism, realism, romanticism, modernism, and postmodernism. Some of the prominent figures of modern Persian literature are Mirza Aqa Khan Kermani, Mirza Fath Ali Akhundzadeh, Mirza Malkom Khan, Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, Muhammad Iqbal, Nima Yushij, Ahmad Shamlu, Forugh Farrokhzad, Sadegh Hedayat, Jalal Al-e Ahmad, Ali Shariati, Simin Daneshvar, and Mahmoud Dowlatabadi.
Medieval Persian literature: This is the period of the flourishing of New Persian literature, which began after the Arab conquest of Iran and the adoption of the Arabic script and many Arabic loanwords. This period saw the emergence of various genres, such as epic, lyric, mystical, didactic, and romantic poetry, as well as prose works, such as histories, biographies, travelogues, and literary criticism. Some of the most famous poets and writers of this period are Ferdowsi, the author of the Shahnameh, the epic of Persian kings and heroes, Rumi, the founder of the Mevlevi order of Sufism and the author of the Masnavi and the Divan, Hafez, the master of the ghazal, or lyrical poem, Saadi, the author of the Bustan and the Gulistan, moral and ethical treatises, Nizami, the author of the Khamseh, or the Quintet, a series of five romantic and heroic poems, Omar Khayyam, the mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher, and the author of the rubaiyat, and Attar, author of the Manteq al-Tayr.
Ancient Persian literature: This includes the writings in Old Persian and Avestan languages, such as the Gathas of Zoroaster, the Avesta, the holy book of Zoroastrianism, and the Behistun Inscription of Darius I, the first Persian king. These texts reflect the ancient Iranian myths, legends, religion, and history.
Modern Persian literature: Modern Persian literature refers to the literature that emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries, and reflects the social, political, and cultural changes that occurred in Iran and the Persian-speaking world. Modern Persian literature encompasses various genres, styles, and movements, such as constitutionalism, nationalism, realism, romanticism, modernism, and postmodernism. Some of the prominent figures of modern Persian literature include Mirza Aqa Khan Kermani, Mirza Fath Ali Akhundzadeh, Mirza Malkom Khan, Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, Muhammad Iqbal, Nima Yushij, Ahmad Shamlu, Forugh Farrokhzad, Sadegh Hedayat, Jalal Al-e Ahmad, Ali Shariati, Simin Daneshvar, and Mahmoud Dowlatabadi.
Rudaki and court poetry: Rudaki, or Abu Abd Allah Jafar ibn Muhammad al-Rudaki, was a 9th- and 10th-century Persian poet and musician. He is regarded as the first great poet of New Persian literature, and the founder of the classical style of Persian poetry. Rudaki was a court poet of the Samanid dynasty, and composed many poems in praise of the Samanid rulers, as well as poems on various themes such as love, nature, and wine. Rudaki’s poetry is admired for its elegance, clarity, and melody, and its influence on later poets. Rudaki is also credited with introducing the rubaiyat and the mathnawi, two important poetic forms, into Persian literature.
Nezami Aruzi and literary criticism: Nezami Aruzi, or Jamal al-Din Muhammad ibn Qiwam al-Din Nezami Aruzi, was a 12th-century Persian poet, writer, and literary critic. He is best known for his Chahar Maqala, or the Four Discourses, a treatise on the four professions of secretary, poet, astrologer, and physician. The Chahar Maqala is a valuable source of information on the literary and intellectual life of medieval Persia, and contains many anecdotes, quotations, and opinions on various poets and writers. Nezami Aruzi’s work is notable for its critical and analytical approach, and its appreciation of the art and craft of poetry.
Attar and allegorical literature: Attar, or Farid al-Din Attar, was a 12th- and 13th-century Persian poet, mystic, and hagiographer. He is considered one of the greatest figures of Sufi literature, and his works are characterized by their allegorical and symbolic style, and their exploration of the spiritual journey of the soul. Attar’s most famous works include the Tadhkirat al-Awliya, or the Memorial of the Saints, a collection of biographies of Sufi saints and masters, the Manteq al-Tayr, or the Conference of the Birds, an allegorical poem that describes the quest of the birds for the mythical Simurgh, or the king of the birds, and the Asrar-nameh, or the Book of Secrets, a mystical treatise on the secrets of Sufism.
Omar Khayyam and rubaiyat poetry: Omar Khayyam, or Ghiyath al-Din Abu’l-Fath Umar ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyami, was a 11th- and 12th-century Persian poet, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher. He is best known for his rubaiyat, or quatrains, which are short poems that consist of four lines with a specific rhyme scheme. Omar Khayyam’s rubaiyat are remarkable for their originality, wit, and skepticism, and their expression of his views on life, death, fate, and free will. Omar Khayyam’s rubaiyat were popularized in the West by the 19th-century English poet Edward FitzGerald, who translated and adapted them into English.
Nizami and romantic literature: Nizami, or Nizami Ganjavi, was a 12th-century Persian poet and one of the greatest representatives of the Khamseh, or the Quintet, a genre of five epic poems that each deal with a different theme. Nizami’s Khamseh consists of the Makhzan al-Asrar, or the Treasury of Mysteries, the Khosrow and Shirin, the Layla and Majnun, the Haft Paykar, or the Seven Beauties, and the Eskandar-nameh, or the Book of Alexander. Nizami’s poems are famous for their romantic and heroic stories, their rich and vivid descriptions, and their blend of historical, mythical, and mystical elements. Nizami’s poems have inspired many other poets and artists, and have been adapted into various forms of art and media.
Saadi and moral literature: Saadi, or Abu-Muhammad Muslih al-Din bin Abdallah Shirazi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, writer, and traveler. He is best known for his two major works, the Bustan, or the Orchard, and the Gulistan, or the Rose Garden, which are collections of stories, anecdotes, and aphorisms that illustrate moral and ethical teachings. Saadi’s works are distinguished by their simplicity, humor, and wisdom, and their appeal to both the elite and the common people. Saadi’s works have been widely translated and quoted, and one of his verses is inscribed on the entrance of the United Nations building in New York.
Hafez and ghazal poetry: Hafez, or Khwaja Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi, was a 14th-century Persian poet who is widely admired for his mastery of the ghazal, a poetic form that consists of a series of couplets that share a common rhyme and meter. Hafez’s ghazals are renowned for their beauty, elegance, and subtlety, and their use of imagery, symbolism, and allusion. Hafez’s poetry reflects his profound knowledge of Persian culture, literature, and religion, as well as his personal experiences of love, friendship, and spirituality. Hafez’s poetry is widely read and memorized by Iranians, and his tomb in Shiraz is a popular pilgrimage site.
Rumi and Sufi poetry: Rumi, or Jalal al-Din Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, mystic, and founder of the Mevlevi order of Sufism. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of all time, and his works have been translated into many languages and influenced many literary and spiritual traditions. Rumi’s poetry is characterized by its lyrical, musical, and ecstatic style, and its expression of love, joy, and longing for the divine. Rumi’s most famous works include the Masnavi, a six-volume collection of mystical stories and teachings, and the Divan, a collection of lyric poems and quatrains.
The Shahnameh: The Shahnameh, or the Book of Kings, is the epic masterpiece of the poet Ferdowsi, who composed it in the 10th and 11th centuries CE. It is the longest poem ever written by a single author, and contains over 50,000 verses that narrate the history and legends of Iran from the creation of the world to the Islamic conquest. The Shahnameh is a national treasure of Iran and a source of pride and identity for Iranians. It is also a universal work of art that explores themes such as heroism, love, justice, and fate.
I have been delving into the Persian literature of the Sasanian era, which preceded the Islamic conquest of Iran and marked the peak of the pre-Islamic Iranian civilization. The Sasanian literature is mostly preserved in the Middle Persian language, and it includes religious texts, historical chronicles, legal codes, and epic poems. The most important of these works is the Khwaday-Namag, or the Book of Kings, which was the main source of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh.
I have been exploring the contemporary Persian literature of Iran, which reflects the social and political changes and challenges of the 20th and 21st centuries. Many Iranian writers have experimented with new forms and styles, and have addressed issues such as identity, censorship, revolution, war, exile, and human rights. Some of the prominent names of this genre are Sadegh Hedayat, Simin Daneshvar, Ahmad Shamlou, and Marjane Satrapi.
I have been learning about the Persian literature of the Indian subcontinent, which flourished under the patronage of the Mughal emperors and the local rulers. Many Persian poets and writers migrated to India and contributed to the development of a rich and diverse literary culture that blended Persian and Indian elements. Some of the notable figures of this tradition are Amir Khusrow, Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, Mirza Ghalib, and Muhammad Iqbal.
I am amazed by the works of Nizami Ganjavi, a 12th-century Persian poet who wrote five epic poems known as the Khamsa, or the Quintet. Each poem is a masterpiece of storytelling, characterization, and imagery, and they cover themes such as love, heroism, history, and spirituality. The most famous of his poems is the Layla and Majnun, a tragic love story that has influenced many other works of literature and art.
I have been reading the Divan of Hafez, the 14th-century Persian poet who is widely regarded as the master of the ghazal, a poetic form that consists of rhyming couplets with a common refrain. Hafez's poems are complex and multilayered, and they can be interpreted in various ways, such as mystical, romantic, or political. His poems are also very popular among Iranians, who often use them for divination or guidance in their daily lives.
I am fascinated by the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, a collection of quatrains attributed to the 11th-century Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet. The Rubaiyat are full of philosophical reflections on life, death, fate, and free will, and they also celebrate the joys of wine, love, and nature. They have a beautiful and musical language, and they have been translated into many languages and adapted by many poets and artists.
I have been enjoying the stories of Nasreddin, a legendary character in Persian literature and folklore who is known for his witty and humorous anecdotes. He is often portrayed as a wise fool, a trickster, or a simpleton, who uses his wit and irony to expose the hypocrisy and injustice of his society. His stories are very entertaining and also teach valuable lessons about human nature and morality.
I recently discovered the works of Forugh Farrokhzad, a modern Iranian poet and filmmaker who broke many social and literary taboos in her short but influential life. She wrote about her personal experiences as a woman, a lover, a mother, and a rebel, and expressed her views on feminism, sexuality, and freedom. Her poems are powerful, honest, and lyrical, and they reflect the struggles and aspirations of many Iranian women in the 20th century.
One of my favorite Persian poets is Rumi, the 13th-century mystic and founder of the Mevlevi order of Sufism. His poems are full of love, wisdom, and spirituality, and they have inspired millions of people around the world. I especially love his Mathnawi, a collection of six books of stories and teachings that cover various topics such as ethics, theology, cosmology, and psychology. It is a treasure of Persian literature and Sufi thought.
I just finished reading the Shahnameh, the epic poem by Ferdowsi that tells the history of Iran from the creation of the world to the Islamic conquest. It is a masterpiece of Persian literature and culture, full of heroic stories, mythical creatures, and moral lessons. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the rich and ancient heritage of Iran.
