The Hand of Poetry (Lectures on Persian Poetry) (Paperback)

~ Hazrat Inayat Khan (Author), Inayat Khan (Editor), Coleman Barks (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Inayat Khans talks on Persian poetry with fresh translations by Coleman Barks. Includes, Sanai, Rumi, Attar, Saadi, Hafez.

About the Author

Coleman Barks, Translator

Product Details

• Paperback: 181 pages
• Publisher: Omega Publications (May 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0930872479
• ISBN-13: 978-0930872472
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #811,088 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Spiritual flying carpet, June 29, 2000

By	Puya Hariri (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

There is beauty here both in the words and in the deeper mystical message that these C13th poets share with us. They take you on an exotic journey in to yourself. You sense a familiarity about what is said and Coleman Barks' translation is such that the words sound not from a bygone era but from this very moment...

I've bought four copies of this book and re-read it many times. After you're finished you'll want to give it to everyone you know!

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is an exciting introduction to five Persian poets., November 22, 1998

By A Customer

Most poetry lovers have discovered Rumi. In this book Rumi and four other mystic poets are celebrated. The five lectures given by Pir-o-Murshid Inagyat Khan, who is credited with bringing Sufism to the West, are fascinating mini bios of the five men. The lectures were given in San Franciso in 1923 and have been translated by Coleman Barks. There are notes included by Barks as well. Rumi considered two of these poets his poetic masters: Attar and Sanai. Fariduddin Attar was a perfumist, a doctor and a poet. He was born in Nishapur in 1119. His most famous poem is "The Conference of the Birds". My favourite is "Mysticism" in which he writes "I met a woman once and asked her where love had led her. 'Fool, there's no destination to arrive at. Loved one and lover and love are infinite'. There is a list of "Sources" in the back of the book so readers can find more on the poets that especially resonate with them. As Rumi wrote: "Listen to presences inside poems. Let them take you where they will."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I wouldn't buy this book if I were you., June 30, 2007

By	Nathan Higgins (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Yuk. This book came in the mail yesterday and its going back in the mail tomorrow (today is Sunday so I can't mail it today). Having read Hafiz for awhile, I went immediately to that section of the book in order to consider the virtue of the whole. First I felt dismay, then disgust, then dismay again. Bark's versions of Hafiz are not just bad, they're very bad. And I don't mean bad in a good way. I can't comment on his damage to the other poets because I'm not as familiar with them. If you're interested in Hafiz, I would recommend The Green Sea of Heaven. Its a very pleasing and legitimate translation. AVOID DANIEL LADINSKY if you're looking for Hafiz. He writes good original poems, but then deceptively claims that they are Hafiz translations. For Attar, check out The Conference of the Birds. Here's a tip: check to see if the "translator" is actually translating from the original language or is interpreting from pre-translated material. Why go into a nice restaurant and order a corn-dog?