Publisher's Synopsis
THE DOHA Wise Rhyming Couplets from Sufi, Bhakti, Christian Mystic & other Poets AN ANTHOLOGY Translation & Introduction Paul Smith A doha is a poem in the form of one rhyming couplet of two lines. This might seem very simple and easy to understand, but they often have a truly deep meaning. Hindi and Urdu Bhakti poets and Persian Sufi poets and other eastern language and religious poets have been writing dohas for over fourteen centuries. Many poets have used dohas to write entire stories and epics. In Europe they were called alexandrines. Kabir managed to convey his philosophy of life, love, devotion and religion through his magical couplets. He wrote them in Hindi, using everyday examples so that they can be understood by the common man. INTRODUCTION: The Doha... its Poetic Form and History. THE POETS: Saraha, Nizami, Baba Farid, 'Attar, Sadi, Nizam ud-din, Amir Khusrau, Kabir, Tulsidas, Dadu, Rahim, Tahir Ghani, Vrind, Angelus Silesius, Ramdas, Bulleh Shah, Shah Latif, Bhima Bhoi. Biographies & Selected Bibliographies with each poet. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept, often for the first time, and the beauty and meaning of these wise, powerful, mostly spiritual, beautiful, short poems. Large Format Edition, Paperback 7" x 10" Pages 552. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'."It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran."Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Lalla Ded, Mahasti, Iqbal, Ghalib, Rahman Baba, Ibn al-Farid, 'Iraqi, and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, children's books, biographies and a dozen screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa
