The Angels Knocking on the Tavern Door : Thirty Poems of Hafez

The great Persian poet Hafez is so beloved in Iran that almost every family there keeps his Divan close at hand. For some fifteen years, esteemed American poet and author Robert Bly has worked with the great Islamic scholar Leonard Lewisohn to produce this translation, which for the first time captures Hafez's nimbleness, his fierce humor, his astonishing range of thought, and his delight in loveenabling English speakers to fully appreciate the true genius of this master of the ghazal form, one of the greatest inventions in the history of poetry. ** One of our most acclaimed poets brings the work of the great Persian mystic and poet, Hafez, to a new audience. There is no poet in our tradition who carries the amount of admiration and devotion that the Persians have for Hafez. Children learn to sing Hafez poems in the third grade, and almost every family has a copy of the collected Hafez on the dining room table. Robert Bly and the great Islamic scholar Leonard Lewisohn have worked for 15 years on this book of Hafez, the first that carries into English his nimbleness, his outrageous humor, his defenses of the private life in the face of the fundamentalists, and the joy of his love poems. He writes in the ghazal form, one of the greatest inventions in the history of poetry. This is Rumi's wild younger brother, now brought into an English that makes his genius visible. At Last In English Is A Wide Selection From The Great Persian Poet Hafez, So Beloved In Iran That Almost Every Family There Keeps His Divan Close At Hand. When Robert Bly And Coleman Barks Visited Iran, They Heard Schoolchildren Singing Hafez Poems At His Graveside. For Some Fifteen Years, The Great Islamic Scholar Leonard Lewisohn Has Worked With Robert Bly To Produce This Translation, Which For The First Time Carries Into English Hafez's Nimbleness, His Fierce Humor Directed At The Mullahs, His Astonishing Range Of Thought, And The Delight Of His Love Poems. Translated By Robert Bly And Leonard Lewisohn. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 87-94). The great Persian poet Hafez is so beloved in Iran that almost every family there keeps his Divan close at hand. For some fifteen years, esteemed American poet and author Robert Bly has worked with the great Islamic scholar Leonard Lewisohn to produce this translation, which for the first time captures Hafez's nimbleness, his fierce humor, his astonishing range of thought, and his delight in love — enabling English speakers to fully appreciate the true genius of this master of the ghazal form, one of the greatest inventions in the history of poetry. An introduction to the work of the iconic Persian mystic and poet reflects an English-language translation that seeks to convey his humor, defense of the private life in the face of fundamentalists, and use of nimble language. Reprint.