Publisher's Synopsis
***RUBA'IYAT of PAUL SMITH*** The ruba'i is an ancient form of poetry of four lines in which usually the first, second and fourth lines rhyme and sometimes with the radif (refrain) after the rhyme words... sometimes all four rhyme. Each ruba'i is a separate poem in itself. The ruba'i should be eloquent, spontaneous and ingenious. Every major and most minor poet of Persia and Turkey and India composed at some times in the ruba'i form. Paul Smith, an Australian poet, has translated all the major Sufi and other poets of this form and has composed many of his own in English over the past 45 years. Here is a large selection of his work that is at once modern and reflecting all the great Sufi ruba'i poets of the past.. The Introduction includes chapters on his life and work, Sufism in poetry and a chapter on this popular form. Selected Bibliography. Pages 236. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF 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." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator 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 author).Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 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, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Lalla Ded, Baba Farid, Bulleh Shah, Jami and others, and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and a dozen screenplays. New Humanity Books amazon.com/author/smithpa
