Hafiz’s Little Book of Life is a lush collection of more than 250 poems by Hafiz, commonly known as the Tongue of the Hidden. In Iran, ordinary people memorize poetry of Hafiz. Lines from his poems are quoted as proverbs in everyday life. Stars can be heard singing his poetry on the radio. A copy of his collected work (divan) can be found in any average household. Translated by native Persian speaker, Erfan Mojib and the award-winning translator Gary Gach, this collection will be sure to strike a chord with Hafiz lovers everywhere.
Let the unforgettable words of Hafiz shine through you with their love, depth, and celebration of life. This collection of mystical poetry focuses on the issues we encounter in everyday life. The book unfolds as Garden of the World, Garden of Love, and The Garden of Bliss. These encompass a range of experiences a person is likely to encounter in a lifetime.
- World includes personal and social themes, such as solitude, hypocrisy, and hope.
- Love spans separation, longing, and union.
- Bliss, the capper, is the briefest.
Also included is a small biography of Hafiz, translators’ notes, and a section on using Hafiz’s work for divination. A typical Hafiz Oracle occurs every year at a Yalda celebration (the longest night of the year). During the evening, someone might make a wish and open a book of Hafiz and read a poem out loud. They then pass the book to the next person.
About the Author
Hafiz of Shiraz (also spelled Hafez) was widely regarded as an infidel in his day (circa 1310 – 1390). Today he is recognized in the East not only for the excellence of his poetry, but also as a Sufi illuminate.
Erfan Mojib was born in the desert town of Yazd in the centre of Iran. He holds a degree in comparative literature from UM Malaysia and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of New Brunswick in Canada. He has published a number of translated works of fiction include: Reza Ghassemi’s The Spell Chanted by Lambs; Simon Van Booy’s Love Begins in Winter and The Illusion of Separateness; Gene Bell-Villada’s García Márquez: The Man and His Work; Julian Barnes’ Flaubert’s Parrot; and Jeanette Winterson’s The Passion. He is the recipient of Tehran School of Art Short Story Award and David Walker Prize for creative writing.
Gary Gach has co-translated three books of poetry from Korean by Ko Un: Flowers of a Moment, BOA / Lannan Translation Series (Northern California Book Award for Translation); Ten Thousand Lives, and Songs for Tomorrow. His anthology What Book!? – Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop, (Parallax Press) received an American Book Award from Before Columbus Foundation. He is also author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buddhism and Pause … Breathe … Smile.
