SELECTED POEMS from the DIVAN of NASIR-I-KHUSRAW: Famous Early Persian Poet, Mystic & Traveller

by Paul Smith, Nasir-i Khusraw

SELECTED POEMS from the DIVAN of NASIR-I-KHUSRAW Famous Early Persian Poet, Mystic & Traveller. Translation & Introduction Paul Smith. This famous and often infamous poet, philosopher and traveller Nasir-i-Khusraw (1005-1070) was the influential author of a Divan, masnavis and many prose-works. Like many of the greatest poets in this book he was born in Balkh (now Afghanistan). His takhallas or pen-name was Hujjat … or ‘Proof’ of Khurasan. As a young man he became a court poet but at the age of forty-two walked out on his old life in search of the Truth. Like Sadi he travelled widely throughout the Middle-East and North Africa for six years and recorded his wanderings in his ‘Book of Travels’ or Safar-nama . He spent the remainder of his life in Yumgan in a secluded fort after fleeing from persecution for his beliefs. There he taught his disciples and others the Ismailian doctrine and the spiritual path. He is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential poets of the classical period of the Persian language and a great Spiritual Master. His Divan is over 11,000 couplets. This is the largest selection of his poems translated into English in the correct form and meaning. Introduction His Life, Times & Poetry & that of his teacher Mu’ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi & a selection of his poems. On Form of the Qasida & Masnavi. Selected Bibliography. Three Appendixes including his famous book of Travels (Safar-nama) & his ‘Book of Enlightenment. 12pt. 6” x 9” 290 pages. 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.” Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. “Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of works 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 author). 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, Seemab, Jigar, Abu Nuwas, Seemab and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children’s books and 12 screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa NEW HUMANITY BOOKS

290 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2021

About the author

Paul^^^Smith

Paul Smith (Born 1945) has been translating and writing books and film-scripts and plays for the past 45 years. His Divan of Hafiz is recognised as the closest and most beautiful translation. His other books include… Hafiz: The Oracle, Hafiz of Shiraz (3 volumes), Ruba’iyat of Hafiz, 700 Sayings of Kabir, Ruba’iyat of Sadi, Ruba’iyat of Rumi, Rumi: Selected Poems, Divan of Sadi, Nizami: Layla and Majnun, Nizami: Treasury of the Mysteries, Obeyd Zakani: The Dervish Joker, Obeyd Zakani’s Mouse & Cat, Hafiz’s Friend: Jahan Khatun, Piercing Pearls: The Complete Anthology of Persian Poetry (2 vols.), Princesses, Sufis, Dervishes, Martyrs and Feminists: Seven Great Women Poets of the East, Makhfi: The Princess Sufi Poet Zeb-un-Nissa,The Sufi Ruba’iyat: An Anthology, The Sufi Ghazal: An Anthology, The Ruba’iyat: A World Anthology, The Ghazal: A World Anthology, The Divine Wine: A Treasury of Sufi & Dervish Poetry (2 vols.), The Masnavi: A World Anthology, Unity in Diversity: Anthology of Sufi Poets of Indian Sub-Continent, Tongues on Fire: Anthology of the Poets of Afghanistan, Wine, Blood & Roses: Anthology of Turkish Poets, Love’s Agony & Bliss: Anthology of Urdu Poetry, Hearts With Wings: Anthology of Persian Sufi & Dervish Poetry, Breezes of Truth: Selected Arabic Sufi Poetry, Ibn al-Farid: Wine & The Mystic’s Progress, Anthology of Classical Arabic Poetry, The Qit’a: Anthology of the ‘Fragment’ in Arabic, Persian & Eastern Poetry, Ruba’iyat of Ma’arri, The Qasida: A World Anthology, Huma: Selected Poetry of Meher Baba, Ruba’iyat of Abu Sa’id, The Poets of Shiraz,Ruba’iyat of Mahsati, Ruba’iyat of Khayyam, Ruba’iyat of Sana’i, Ruba’iyat of Jahan Khatun, Ruba’iyat of ‘Attar, ‘Attar: Selected Poetry, Ruba’iyat of Jami, Ruba’iyat of Kamal ad-din, Ruba’iyat of Auhad ud-din, Yunus Emre… Turkish Dervish: Selected Poems, Ruba’iyat of Sarmad, Hafiz: The Ugly Little Boy who became a Great Poet, The Healer and the Emperor, The First Mystery, The Master, the Muse & the Poet: An Autobiography in Poetry, The Greatest Game, Pan of the Never-Never, Pune: The City of God, Compassionate Rose, and others.