The Hand of Poetry: Five Mystic Poets of Persia : Translations from the Poems of Sanai, Attar, Rumi, Saadi and Hafiz : Lectures on Persian Poetry

by Coleman Barks (editor), Inayat Khan (Editor), Coleman Barks (Editor)

Inayat Khans talks on Persian poetry with fresh translations by Coleman Barks. Includes, Sanai, Rumi, Attar, Saadi, Hafez.

Genres: Poetry, Islam, Spirituality, Anthologies, Nonfiction, Iran, Classics

185 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1993

About the author

Coleman Barks is an American poet. Despite the fact that he admittedly speaks no Persian, he is world-renowned as a translator of Rumi and other mystic poets of Persia. Barks taught literature at the University of Georgia for three decades. He makes frequent international appearances and is well-known throughout the Middle East. Barks's work has contributed to an extremely strong following of Rumi in the English-speaking world. Due to his work, the ideas of Sufism have crossed many cultural boundaries over the past few decades. Coleman Barks received an honorary doctorate from Tehran University in 2006.

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite quotes:

"... remembering though,

that this world is full of people
who never read, and remain
in a dim, undeveloped stupor."
-Sanai, Teaching Schoolboys

"The One who makes existence non-existent stops the menstrual rhythm to build a child." (Earthworm Guidance)
-Sanai

"Someone who keeps aloof from suffering is not a lover." (The Puzzle) -Sanai

"Destruction is annihilation or death might seem a very different change, and yet there are a thousand deaths that we die. Every disappointment, the moment when our heart breaks--it is worse than death. Often our experiences through life are worse than death, yet we go through them. At the moment they seem unbearable; we think we cannot stand it, and yet we live." Inayat Khan

"When a man has a ragged cost he days,'I am poor.' In reality, his coat is poor--not he." Inayat Khan

"This moment with all of us here
is paradise,"
-Rumi

"A not who does not appreciate in his childhood all that his mother has done for him, cannot then learn to be tender and gentle to his wife, for first lesson he has learned from his mother." - Inayat Khan

"Spirituality is not in a long face and deep sigh. No doubt there are moments when you will sympathize with the troubles of others. There are moments that move you to tears, and there are times when you must close your lips. But there are other moments when you can see the joyous side of life and enjoy it's beauties. Man is not born into this works for depression and unhappiness. His very being is happiness; depression is something unnatural. By this I do not mean to say that sorrow is a sin or suffering always avoidable." - Inayat Khan

"People are anxious to do something, and wait for years and years, unhappy, in despair, waiting for that moment to come." Inayat Khan

"A gathering of God's friends
talking quietly outdoors,

the banquet being served, a dry rosé
with a bite of kebab afterwards,

a wink from the one who pours,
Hafiz telling some story,

Hajji Qavam with guys long laugh,
a full moon overhead,

the infinite mystery
of all this love.

If someone doesn't want the pleasure
of such an open-hearted garden,

companionship, no, life itself,
must be against his rules!" -Hafiz ("The Banquet")

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A snapshot of ancient Persian mystic poetry. Even though I only understood 10% of it, it absolutely, hands down, cannot be beat!! lol

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvellous and entrancing..

[Jaide · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good collection if you’re really into Persian mystic poetry. For me, this is one of many forays into the genre, and I just find myself exhausted by their obsession with wine.
Rumi always has a few gems, and I was tickled to be introduced to Saadi (who tells humorous stories with morals).

[Yahia Lababidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took poetry to bring me back to faith, despite being born and raised a cultural Muslim. Nearly a decade and a half ago, I picked up this book and found myself drawn to the beauty of the language and transported to a spiritual dimension I hardly had a name for. The introductions to these justly-celebrated mystic poets of Persia are valuable, in an of themselves. Beyond the attractive surface language, however, the poetry points to a deeper reality in undogmatic terms, the art of living, known as Sufism.

[muaad the poet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I completed this year. A stunning introduction to Persian poetry. I’ll really miss the days where I was travelling to school reading this and I’m grateful to the author for allowing me to get an introduction to Persian literature.

[R.K. Cowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars