KHAQANI Early Master of the Persian GhazalSelected PoemsTranslation & Introduction Paul Smith. Khaqani was born in Shirwan in 1122, died in Tabriz in 1199. He was a great poet and a master of the qasida and one of the first of the ghazal. He was born into the family of a carpenter. His mother was a Christian. Jesus features in many poems. After he was invited to court he assumed the pen-name Khaqani ('regal'). A court poet's life bored him and he fled to Iraq inspiring his famous masnavi 'A Gift from the Two Iraqs'. He wrote 'The Ruin of Madain' painting his impression of the remains of Sassanid's Palace. Returning Shah Akhistan imprisoned him. Released he moved to Tabriz but his son died, then daughter, wife. Alone, he died. He left a remarkable, large heritage of ghazals in Persian that influenced many 'court' and Sufi poets. Introduction: Life, Poetry & Times and Forms he composed in & two Persian Sufi Poets who influenced him. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept in this largest selection of his ghazals or Sufi/love poems translated into English. Selected Bibliography. Large Print (16pt) & Large Format (8" x 10") Edition. 160 pages Comments on Paul Smith's Translation Oo Hafiz's 'Divan' ."It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all and I will lay down my head at his feet out of respect." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books). "I was very impressed with the beauty of these books." Dr. R.K. Barz. Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University. Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Lalla Ded, and many others, and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books, 12 screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa
