{"product_id":"the-divan-of-hafiz-edition-of-complete-poetry","title":"The Divan of Hafiz: Edition of Complete Poetry","description":"\u003cp\u003eImmerse yourself in the complete poetic legacy of Shamsuddin Mohammad Hafiz Shirazi (1315-1390), the beloved Persian mystic whose verses have captivated hearts and minds for over six centuries. This comprehensive bilingual edition presents all 500 ghazals and 42 Rubaiyees in both the original Persian and Henry Wilberforce Clarke's meticulous word-by-word English translation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eA Complete Scholarly Edition\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eDivan of Hafiz\u003c\/em\u003e represents the complete collected works of one of Persian literature's most revered voices. Unlike interpretive translations that prioritize poetic flow over literal accuracy, Clarke's word-by-word approach preserves the structure, nuance, and linguistic richness of the original Persian text. This makes it an invaluable resource for:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePersian language learners\u003c\/strong\u003e seeking to deepen their understanding through parallel text study\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComparative literature students\u003c\/strong\u003e analyzing translation methodology and poetic form\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScholars of Islamic mysticism\u003c\/strong\u003e requiring precise textual references\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePoetry enthusiasts\u003c\/strong\u003e who appreciate both literal and interpretive approaches to translation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSufi practitioners\u003c\/strong\u003e seeking authentic source material for contemplative study\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eUnderstanding Hafiz's Ghazals\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ghazal—a lyric poem typically consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain—is the primary form through which Hafiz expressed his mystical vision. His poetry weaves together themes of divine love, spiritual intoxication, the hypocrisy of religious formalism, and the ecstatic union of the soul with the Beloved. Through metaphors of wine, taverns, nightingales, and roses, Hafiz created a symbolic language that speaks simultaneously to earthly and divine love, to sensual pleasure and spiritual transcendence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis work defies simple categorization. Is he celebrating wine or divine ecstasy? Romantic love or mystical union? The beauty of Hafiz lies precisely in this ambiguity—his verses operate on multiple levels simultaneously, inviting readers into a world where the sacred and profane, the literal and metaphorical, dance together in perpetual mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe Clarke Translation: Literal Precision\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHenry Wilberforce Clarke's translation, first published in the late 19th century, remains one of the most literal English renderings of Hafiz's \u003cem\u003eDivan\u003c\/em\u003e. While this approach sacrifices some of the lyrical flow found in more interpretive translations (such as those by Daniel Ladinsky or Coleman Barks), it offers unparalleled access to the actual structure and word choice of the Persian original.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor serious students, this literal approach is invaluable. You can see how Hafiz constructs his metaphors, trace his use of specific Persian terms with mystical significance, and understand the formal constraints within which he worked. Clarke's translation serves as a bridge between the Persian text and English comprehension, making it an essential companion for anyone studying Persian literature or Sufi poetry in depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBilingual Format: Persian \u0026amp; English Side by Side\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis edition presents the Persian text alongside Clarke's English translation, allowing readers to:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCompare the original Persian with the English rendering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStudy Persian vocabulary and poetic structure in context\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAppreciate the musicality and rhythm of the original language\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVerify translation choices and explore alternative interpretations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeepen their understanding of Persian literary conventions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho This Edition Is For\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePersian Language Students:\u003c\/strong\u003e The parallel text format makes this an ideal study companion, allowing you to build vocabulary and comprehension while engaging with one of Persian literature's masterworks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScholars \u0026amp; Researchers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clarke's literal translation provides the textual precision necessary for academic work, citation, and comparative analysis.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSufi Practitioners:\u003c\/strong\u003e Access to the complete \u003cem\u003eDivan\u003c\/em\u003e allows for deep contemplative study of Hafiz's mystical teachings in their full context.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePoetry Lovers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Experience Hafiz in a different register than popular interpretive translations—see the architecture of his verse, the precision of his word choice, the formal elegance of the ghazal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComparative Readers:\u003c\/strong\u003e If you already own interpretive translations by Ladinsky or others, this edition offers a complementary perspective, showing you what the original text actually says versus how it might be creatively rendered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHafiz's Enduring Legacy\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHafiz's tomb in Shiraz remains a pilgrimage site, and his poetry continues to be memorized, recited, and consulted for guidance across the Persian-speaking world and beyond. His influence extends across cultures and centuries—Goethe praised him as a peer, Emerson translated his verses, and contemporary spiritual seekers continue to find in his words a map to the territory of divine love.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe practice of \u003cem\u003efal-e Hafez\u003c\/em\u003e—opening the \u003cem\u003eDivan\u003c\/em\u003e at random to receive guidance—testifies to the living relationship Persian culture maintains with this poet. His verses are not merely historical artifacts but active presences in the spiritual lives of millions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eA Complement to Your Contemplative Library\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis complete edition of the \u003cem\u003eDivan of Hafiz\u003c\/em\u003e serves as both a scholarly reference and a spiritual companion. Whether you're studying Persian, researching Sufi mysticism, comparing translation approaches, or simply seeking to encounter Hafiz's voice in its most authentic English rendering, this bilingual edition offers depth, precision, and completeness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLet Hafiz's complete poetic legacy unfold before you—500 ghazals of mystical wisdom, ecstatic love, and the eternal dance between the human and the divine.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Henry Wilberforce Clarke","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46454036463747,"sku":"BS-3QC-209012","price":33.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0695\/1583\/7571\/files\/9781636209012-HD.jpg?v=1769903249","url":"https:\/\/www.merceliarose.com\/products\/the-divan-of-hafiz-edition-of-complete-poetry","provider":"Mercelia Rose","version":"1.0","type":"link"}