The Persian Sufi poet Hafiz (1326-1390) is a towering figure in Islamic literature—and in spiritual attainment as well. Known for his profound mystical wisdom combined with a sublime sensuousness, Hafiz was the supreme master of a poetic form known as the ghazal (pronounced "guzzle"), an ode or song consisting of rhymed couplets celebrating divine love. In this selection of his poems, wine and the intoxication it brings are the image that expresses this love in all its joyful abandon, painful longing, bewilderment, and surrender. Through ninety-five free-verse renditions, we gain entry into the mystical world of Hafiz's Winehouse, with its happy minstrels, its bewitching Winebringer, and its companions in drunken longing whose hearts cry out, "More wine!" Thomas Rain Crowe brings a new dimension to our growing appreciation of Hafiz and his wise drunkard's advice to the seekers of God: In this world of illusion, take nothing other than this cup of wine;
In this playhouse, don't play any games but love.

Customer Review: FALLING IN LOVE

IT IS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO GO BACK SO FAR IN THE PAST AND FIND LOVE. THE BOOK CREATES A PERSIAN PAST FULL OF BEAUTIFUL POETRY DEDICATED TO LOVE. IT GIVES ONE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

Customer Review: Respectable versions, but not original translations

Thomas Rain Crowe's renderings of Hafiz are worth reading. They seem to be fairly close to the original, unlike some Coleman Barks mockeries I've read. (Barks is well-reputed. I am only speaking of his Hafiz renderings.) Rain Crowe does not translate from the original Persian, however, so its to be kept in mind that one is reading an American interpretation of the meaning of Hafiz' words. I'm wary of renderers who do not translate. I would recommend this book as an addition to one's Hafiz collection, but perhaps not as one's sole reference. For a very good original translation, I recommend The Green Sea of Heaven by Elizabeth T. Gray. In addition to excellent translations, it also has extensive notes on the text. Hafiz of Shiraz by Peter Avery and John Heath Stubbs is also an original translation and good, but I prefer Ms. Gray's. Beware of Daniel Ladinsky. You could read his books for hours and never read a Hafiz poem. Ladinsky writes his own poems and sells them as Hafiz poems. Whether you call that "forgery" or "smart-marketing", either way it is dishonest, but I suppose we'll all reap what we sow eventually.

Click For More Details