الحلاج Al-Hallaj ثلاثيات Thulathiyat, the Trinities سكوت ثم صمت ثم خرس Quiet then muteness then silence وعلم ثم وجد ثم رمس Knowledge then ecstasy then grave وطين ثم نار ثم نور Clay then fire then light و برد ثم ظل ثم شمس Cold then shadow then sun وحزن…
Mu’allaqah of Labid
The meter and recitation of this Pre-Islamic masterpiece are simply spellbinding…
Shirazi Turk (Hafez)
The story goes that when Timurlane conquered Shiraz, he questioned Hafez about the first bayt of this poem, saying it was an insult to his royal majesty for Hafez to think so little of his magnificent cities, Samarkand and Bukhara. The poet replied, “Alas, O Prince, it is this prodigality which is the cause of the…
The Lost Joseph (Hafez) – یوسف گمگشته بازآید به کنعان غم مخور
One of the better English translations of one of my favorite poems from the greatest poet, Hafez: Your lost Joseph will return to Canaan, do not grieve This house of sorrows will become a garden, do not grieve Oh grieving heart, you will mend, do not despair This frenzied mind will return to calm, do…