The Angels Knocking on the Tavern Door: Thirty Poems of Hafez

Hafez is mostly known in Victorian English translations, but this modern English version is refreshingly readable verse without the subjective baggage that taints other attempts I've seen. The combined efforts of Bly and Lewisohn have resulted in a translation that is as accurate as it is a pleasure to read, which is no easy feat when you're dealing with the ghazal form as it was used in 14th century Persian poetry.

The best translation of Hafez out there. Only one I’ve seen that captures the poet’s wit and sarcasm. Wish there were more poems in it, but I’m grateful to have these selections in good English. (I know them in the original Persian).

Beautiful

Nice

Great translation.

As a white male growing up in Minnesota I would not ordinarily be exposed to Hafez poetry. Fortunately we have Robert Bly. Another wonderful set of translations. These poems stretch me. I don't get them all but I'm sure glad I've read them. Robert Bly's a master at turning something foreign into something accessible.

I love Robert Bly’s take on Hafez. I love Hafez. Wonderful book.

I bought this book after watching a series of programmes about the history of Persia. The reverence for their poets intrigued me, and in particular, Hafez. It seems that every family in present day Iran has a copy of his works. This small volume is an English translation and is therefore at one remove from the original. Add to that the problems associated with understanding different cultures, the obscurity referred to in my title is by no means a negative comment.Many of the poems have a refreshing view of morality and religion. Love and wine are constant topics. The religious references are sometimes familiar with names such as Joseph and Jacob, and Jesus reminding us that the Muslim holy book has many stories known to us from our own Bible.Although the literary style of the poetry is rich with allusions to walking the Road and discussions with teachers, at times it plunges into advice which must be as old as religion: ' .........It's incumbent not to listen To the sermons of the man who never acts on his own words.' How is it possible not to revere a man so honest, whichever religion he is writing about? A word of warning, read these words and find yourself returning to them time and again in order to discover more elusive truths.

Hafez is one of the most popular poets in Persian. In that language, he has a similar stature to Shakespeare for English readers. Yet, to translate him from the original must be a nightmare. Firstly, he is a mystical poet which can be off putting to English readers. Secondly, translating the ghazal form he uses, two line stanzas that involve repetition and leaping of subject at odd angles. Then there are references to Persian culture and Islam that are obscure taken out of their context.Perhaps, it's no wonder Robert Bly and his co-translator, Leonard Lewisohn (a scholar of Islam) have taken 15 years to produce this selection. In that time Bly has created his own take on the ghazal form, changing it from 2 to 3 line stanzas, sometimes with and without the repetitions.Readers of some of Bly's previous anthologies may recognize some of the poems here. Each of these has been revised for the volume here. There are copious notes from Lewisohn to explain the references and put Hafez into context of Sufi thinking and his time. Yet the book is far from scholastic: it's a lively introduction to this poet. The mysticism has a strong, earthiness within it that is appealing. The poems are often joyous, life-affirming and spirited, about wine, women and song. A wonderful introduction to this poet that offers new ways of looking at life.

With all due respect to the translator of this book, this is a very poor translation of Hafez's poets. A literal translation where the melody, deep and double sided meaning and the rhyming has been lost.Now I appreciate the fact that a lot of the meaning of words gets lost when translated into a different language, and I have read many foreign poets works translated into English but this one has lost the soul and the melody of Hafez work.

(Excellent)

Quite simply sublime. You won't be disappointed. Magical.