Anthology of the Ghazal in the Sufi Poetry of Afghanistan

ANTHOLOGY OF THE GHAZAL IN THE SUFI POETRY OF AFGHANISTANTranslation & Introduction Paul SmithSome of the greatest Sufi- Master Poets of the ghazal, the most ancient and most spiritual form of poetry, were from Afghanistan… such as Rumi, Ansari, Sana’i, Jami and Rahman Baba. Here is a good selection of the greatest poets of this unique form in the correct rhyme-strure and meaning. These are beautiful and profound and inspiring spiritual poems from those on the path and those who have reached the destination. CONTENTS: The Ghazal in Dari/Persian and Pushtu Sufi Poetry… Page 7, Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art and Use of Poetry… 15 THE POETS… Shahid 21, Rudaki 23, Rabi’a Balkhi 28, Nasir-i-Khusraw 36, Ansari 42, Sana’i 68, Rumi 83, Imami 112, Jami 114, Mirza 153, Khushal 175, Ashraf Khan 193, Bedil 203, Abdul-Kadir 213, Rahman Baba 227, Khwaja Mohammad 251, Hamid 272, Ahmad Shah 291, Shaida 300. Pages 310.COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH’S TRANSLATION OF HAFEZ’S DIVAN“It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafez is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished..” Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran.“Superb translations. 99% Hafez 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of English to Persian and knower of Hafiz’s Divan off by heart. “Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafez.” Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish and other languages including Hafez, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, ‘Attar, Sana’i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu’in ud-din Chishti, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Hallaj, Rudaki, Yunus Emre Ghalib, Iqbal, Makhfi, Nazir and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, kids books and a dozen screenplays.www.newhumanitybooks.com