Anthology of the Gazel in Turkish Sufi Poetry

ANTHOLOGY OF THE GAZEL IN TURKISH SUFI POETRYTranslation & Introduction Paul SmithThe gazel (ghazal) is perhaps the oldest and most difficult and most beautiful and spiritual form of poetry that has ever existed. Although the poets of the gazel may appear to many as open-minded, drunken, outcast lovers, it does not necessarily mean that they all drank the juice of the grape… for it is an inner spiritual state that they often were expressing. The gazel is a conversation between the lover and the beloved and as in all intimate conversation… the talk flows both ways. The subject may not necessary be about love, but it is always from the point of view of one who loves truth, love and beauty. CONTENTS: The Turkish Language… Page 7, Turkish Poetry… 9, The Gazel in Turkish Sufi Poetry… 12, Glossary For Sufi & Dervish Turkish Poetry… 21 THE POETS… Ahmed Yesevi 27, Yunus Emre 31, Kadi Burhan-ud-din 75, Nesimi 83, Ahmedi 111, Sheykhi 117, Ahmed Pasha 121, Mihri 125, Zeyneb 133, Jem 135, Necati 141, Zati 149, Pir Sultan 155, Khayali 163, Fuzuli 175, Baqi 193, Huda’i 205, Nef’i 209, Yahya 215, Haleti 223, Na’ili 225, Niyazi 231, Nabi 237, Nedim 245, Fitnet 253, Galib 261, Esrar Dede 275, Leyla Khanim 279, Veysel 283. Large Format Paperback 7” x 10” Pages 289COMMENTS 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 Read more