Customer Reviews

The Drunken Universe

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When I brought this book, I was not that interested in poetry, I convinced myself that since I liked Peter L Wilson, that this would be a good place to start. This book introduces the reader to some of the greatest persian sufi poets in the world. The chapters are set out in a way that progresses from, to name a few, leaving this world behind, awakening, separation and sadness, love and the lover to joy and Union. That I'm not a sufi, presented little difficulty for me in enjoying the perenial wisdom and heartfelt message thats presented, because as they says in the introduction, "we decided to produce this book because we realised that, for most english-speaking readers of poetry, the sufi literiture of persia is indeed locked away behind massive doors of unfamiliar substance" and that "what is needed is a guide, an attempt to explain how to read sufi poetry. Thus this book". Beautifully translated with an excelent introduction thats sure to change many peoples views about poetry. There's also a very helpful part in the book called Bio-bibliographies, which has a short introduction to each poet and some recomended translations of there work. The essential Rumi-translated by coleman barks is also a great book.

An excellent selection from some of the greatest Persian masters of Sufi poetry including Rumi , Jami, Shabestari, Nasimi, Eraqi, Attar and more. Exquisitely translated. The commentary by Peter Lamborn Wilson and Nasrollah Pourjavady is also top notch.

"You must take these poems as mirrors; for you know that the mirror has no form of itself, but rather reflects the face of anyone who looks in it. Just so a poem has no one particular meaning of itself , but presents to each reader his state of the moment and the completeness of his case." Ayn al-Qazat Hamadani

One of my favorite collections of the Persian Sufi poets, some you may have heard of and others who may be new to you: Jami, Attar, Hamadani, Iraqi, Hafez, Ibn Arabi, Sanai, and many others. If you like Sufi poetry, this is a book you should have.