Persian Poetry: from classic to modern

Manu Malek, Ph.D.

Industry Professor of Computer Science and Telecommunications Management
http://www.cs.stevens.edu/~mmalek/

Humanities Forum Stevens Institute of Technology

April 13, 2005

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Outline

A quick geographical/historical perspective on Iran (Persia) Background on the Persian language Persian poetry - its structure and styles Some prominent classical poets with samples of their work A short musical piece Some contemporary and modern poets and a sample of their work

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Iran vs. Persia

Iran: the land of Aryans, a name used by natives for 1000s of years Aryans: a branch of Indo-European people who migrated to the Iranian plateau some time in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC Persia:

Around the 6th century BC, the Persian Empire included 20 provinces, each with its own king The seat of King of Kings was called Pars (Persia) The Greeks referred to the capital as Persepolis
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Remains of Persepolis (Shiraz, Iran)

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Iran - 6th Century

Source: National Geographic

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Iran - 17th Century

Source: National Geographic

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The Persian Language (Farsi)

A branch of Indo-European languages An old form of this language, called Pahlavi, prevailed as early as 6th century BC. In the 2nd century BC, a new alphabet, known also as Pahlavi, was created which remained in use until the 7th century. Since the 10th century, Persian has been written in extended Arabic script. However, Persian is different from Arabic. Despite invasions by the Arabs and the Mongols, Persian remained as the literal, cultural, royal, and legal language. Arabic became the religious and scientific language.

Many Persian philosophers and scientists, like Avicenna, Farabi, Kharazmi, Razi, and Khayyam, wrote their scientific works in Arabic.

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Persian Poetry

There is a vast treasure of Persian poetry. I have selected a few great Persian poets whose works have been documented. Youll hear recitations of some of their poems in English

Musical poetry of Rudaki Epic story-telling of Ferdowsi Doubt and Hedonism of Khayyam (Love) story-telling of Nezami Union with God through the poetry of Rumi Humanism of Saadi Symbolic mysticism of Hafez
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Styles of Persian Poetry

There are several poetry styles.

The classical/traditional styles follow a strict rule and structure. Masnavi - a series of couplets where the last word(s) of each couplet rhyme. Ghazal (ode) - usually 6 to 10 lines (couplets) where the last word(s) of the first couplet and all the second parts of the following couplets rhyme. Quatrain (Robayi) - has two couplets, where the first, second, and the 4th piece rhyme. New Poetry - a modern style of poetry. It has a harmonious cadence, but does not follow the strict rules regarding rhyme and the number of syllables.

Here are some popular styles:

Using metaphors and symbolism is very popular in Persian poetry.

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Musical Poetry of Rudaki

(10th Century )

Rudaki is the first major Persian poet for whom there is a body of work.

He was the court poet of the Samanid kings. He is famous for his lyric poems.

Following are a few verses from a Rudakis ghazal:

Reunion after Separation (translated by A. V. William Jackson): Of the pangs of separation I have suffered and borne more, Than, through all the distant ages, any mortal being bore; And my heart had quite forgotten all the charms of union sweet, But what joy tis, after severance, with ones idol to meet.

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The Epic Story Teller: Ferdowsi (940 1020)

Ferdowsi was born and is buried in Toos, in Khorasan province in north eastern Iran. He is known for his epic poetry and nationalistic old Persian stories in his Shah-Nameh (Book of Kings). Shah-Nameh is considered the greatest work in Persian literature and poetry.

He rightly says: I endeavored for 30 years and preserved the Persian language for all time.

Ferdowsis tomb, Toos

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The Hedonist Poet: Khayyam

(1048 1131)

He was born in Neishabur, also in Khorasan. He was primarily a mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher. He questions the purpose of creation and is inclined towards the philosophies of Epicurism and Hedonism.
Khayyams tomb, Neishabur

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A Robayi by Omar Khayyam

The most famous Khayyam quatrain in English is the following Fitzgeralds translation: A Book of verses underneath the bough, A jug of wine, a loaf of bread - and thou; Beside me singing in the wilderness, Oh, wilderness were Paradise enow.

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(Love) Story Teller: Nezami

(1141 1218)

Nezami was born in Ganjeh in present-day Azarbaijan. He is considered one of the greatest Persian poets, comparable to Ferdowsi and Rumi. He is acclaimed by many nations; among them the former Soviet Union. The fact is, however, that Nezami was a poet securely planted in the Persian tradition.
His has written five long poems: Makhzanol-Asrar (The Treasury of Secrets) Khosrow-o-Sheerin (a love story) Leili-o-Majnoon (another love story) Eskandarnameh (The Book of Alexander) Haft-Peykar (The Seven Wise Princesses)
Leili-o-Majnoon Haft-Peikar

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Sufi Master: Attar

(1157 1229)

Attar also lived in Neishabur, Khorasan. He wrote about the mystical search for God, and traveled extensively in search of knowledge. His most famous work is Manteq-o-Tair (The Logic of the Birds).

All the birds of the world assembled together looking for a king. Theyre told that they do have a king the Simorgh, but that he lives far away and the journey to him is difficult and hazardous. They fly off to find their king, but their number gradually diminishes due to hardships of the journey. Finally, 30 birds make it to the court of the Simorgh. But they dont see any bird-king, realizing that their king, the Simorgh, is none other than themselves!

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Another Sufi Master: Rumi

(1207 1273)

Rumi was born in Balkh, in todays Afghanistan His father immigrated westward and his family finally settled in Konya, in present-day Turkey. At the age of 38, he met a wandering darvish, Shams of Tabriz. This changed his life.

Rumis tomb, Konya

He gave up the Islamic religious sciences, founded the Mowlavi order of darvishes, and composed the two works:

The Divan of Shams-e-Tabrizi Masnavi

Rumi believed that oneness with God was attainable through acts of ecstatic devotion.

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Persian Music

Poetry is also central to Persian music. Indeed, it is rather unusual to hear a musical performance without a singer. Rumis ghazal sung by Shajarian.

My rough literal translation:

Ive come for your love; Ive come quietly like the soul and wisdom. If you dont accept me, Ill just enjoy the sight of your beautiful self. The arrow of your love cracks mountains; but I dont intend to use a shield for protection.

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The Humanist Poet: Saadi

(13-14th Century)

Saadi is one of the greatest figures in classical Persian literature. He was born in Shiraz and is buried there. He traveled through the Middle East, North Africa, and India for about 30 years. The following translation of Sadis humanistic poem adorns the entrance to the UN headquarters in Geneva:
Saadis tomb, Shiraz

All human beings are in truth akin; All in creation share one origin. When fate allots a member pangs and pains, No ease for other members then remains. If, unperturbed, another's grief canst scan, Thou are not worthy of the name of man.

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The Mystic Poet: Hafez (1346 1411)

Hafez, another poet from Shiraz, is honored as the greatest writer of ghazals. He wrote in the tradition of Sufism, but he was not a true Sufi. He used metaphors and sophisticated symbolic mysticism in his poems. Hafez is critical of hypocrisy and lack of sincerity. A poem by Hafez (translated by R. M. Rehder):
Her hair in disarray, lips laughing, Drunk in the sweet of revelry, Singing of love, she came, flask in hand. Disheveled and her clothes rent, Last midnight by my bed she bent, Her lips curved in regret. I saw sorrow quarrel in her eyes, As her whispers spoke softly, Is our old love asleep? Given such a wine before dawn, A lover is an infidel to love, If he does not drink. O how many vows of repentance are undone, By the smile of wine and the tresses of a girl, Like the vows of Hafez.

Hafezs tomb, Shiraz

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Jami (15th Century)

Jami, born in 1414 near Samarkand, is considered the last great classical Persian poet. Jamis book of Yousof-o-Zoleykha is one of his best works and one of the best treatments of the theme of Joseph and Potiphars wife (known as Zoleykha). Here are the opening three verses (translated by Ralph Griffith):
Love is ill suited with peace and rest, Scorn and reproaches become him best. Rebuke gives strength to his tongue, and blame, Wakes the dull spark to a brighter flame. Blame is the censor of loves bazaar, It suffers no rust the pure splendor to mar.

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Contemporary Persian Poets

The technique of using metaphors and symbolism is still popular with Persian poets. Some contemporary poets have used it in veiled political expression. Some prominent contemporary poets are:

Traditional style:

Aref, Bahar, Eshghi, Etasami, Shahriar, Sheida, Golzar, Sayeh Farokhzad, Sepehri, Moshiri Yushij, Akhaven-e-Sales, Shamloo

Traditional and New Poetry:

New Poetry:

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Contemporary Persian Poets (contd)

Eshghi, from Tehran, lived in the early part of the 20th century.

He was a passionate nationalist, wrote political poems and satire. Some of his poems were used in Persian operas as well as in songs. He was assassinated at the age of 31.

Sayeh, another contemporary Persian poet, is about 75 years old and writes ghazals in the traditional symbolic style.

Here is my rough literal translation of a few verses from a ghazal written by Sayeh on love:

O love, all excuses are from you, Im usually quiet, this singing is from you. I dont know why Im sad, This uncontrollable crying is from you. Im not concerned about my ship at sea, The shore is from you, the storm is from you. Ill pass silent and obscure (unknown), The eternal song is from you.

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