Mystical Poetry of Hafez in Persian & English

On Saturday, May 13, 2006, 8 PM, the Candlelight Reading Series presents a unique reading with selections of mystical poetry by Hafez of Shiraz in Persian with English translations, recited by Maryam Daftari, Ali Arsanjani, Sharalyn Harris and Freddy Niagara Fonseca at Revelations bookstore, upstairs, 112 North Main Street, Fairfield, Iowa. Admission is free.

Poetry is to Iran what opera is to Italy, or movies to the US. It’s a favorite national pastime. Persians are a passionate people and the mystical poetry from the ancient Sufi tradition of Persia is one of melting of the heart in the love of the Divine. The Persian language is quite beautiful and very soothing to listen to. In the past three/four decades, Sufi poetry has found quite a willing ear in the West as well.

Please note that on May 6 at 8 PM, the Saturday preceding the Candlelight Reading Series event, Mr. Arsanjani will be giving an introductory lecture to the poetry reading with stories on the poetic terminology used by these mystical poets. This free lecture should be helpful for gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of what they are trying to tell us.

A reading of poetry by Rumi will be announced soon.

Maryam is a professor of political science, specializing in Chinese Studies. She's a poet and an avid reader of poetry. In the context of Sufi poetry, she has a special liking for Hafez.

Ali is a professor of computer science and chief software architect within the IBM corporation. He has been studying Persian poetry since the 1980s and written on Rumi's "Masnavi."

Sharalyn, a seasoned performer, specializes in reciting spiritual poetry especially. Rumi and Hafez are two of her favorites.

Freddy, the founder of the series, produces a great variety of cutting edge performance poetry events once a month, serving ever growing audiences.

PROGRAM

Mystical Poetry of Hafez in Persian with Translations

Maryam Daftari, Ali Arsanjani, Sharalyn Harris, Freddy Niagara Fonseca

Saturday, May 13, 2006, 8 PM

Revelations Bookstore, 112 North Main Street, Fairfield, Iowa

Persian music

FNF - Welcome

SH - The Subject Tonight Is Love (Ladinsky)

MD - Introduction to Hafez of Shiraz (c. 1320-1389)

AA - Love Seemed Easy (Ghazal 1)

FNF - Someone Untied Your Camel (Ladinsky 62)

FNF - All the Hemispheres (Ladinsky)

SH - Between Your Eye and This Page (Ladinsky 318)

SH - I Wish I Could Speak Like Music (Ladinsky 305)

MD - Lay not Reproach at the Drunkard's Door (Bell)

MD - I have Learned So Much (Ladinsky 32)

AA - The Crystal Ball of Wine (Ghazal 143)

AA - I'm Drunk With Love (Ghazal 432)

SH - We Have Not Come to Take Prisoners (Ladinsky 28)

SH - Dropping Keys (Ladinsky 206)

MD / AA - Glad Tidings (Ghazal 179) in Persian with two different translations

FNF - Cupping My Hands Like a Mountain Valley (Ladinsky 261)

SH - I Want Both of Us (Ladinsky 180)

SH - Tired of Speaking Sweetly (Ladinsky 187)

AA - The Way of Love (Ghazal 72)

AA - Shahe Shemshad Ghadan (Ghazal 387)

MD - The Days of Absence and the Bitter Nights of Separation (Bell)

MD - Who Wrote All the Music (Ladinsky 38)

FNF - The Theater of Freedom (Ladinsky)

FNF - The Small Table of Time and Space (Ladinsky)

SH - Burglars Hear Watchdogs (Ladinsky 146)

SH - The Thousand-Stringed Instrument (Ladinsky 228)

SH - There (Ladinsky 325)

AA - The Face of My Beloved (Ghazal 11)

AA - When You Hear the Lovers’ Words (Ghazal 22) - skipped

MD - The Light Divine: Within the Magian Tavern, the Light of God I See (Arberry)

MD - God's Bucket (Ladinsky 81)

FNF - In a Handful of God (Ladinsky)

FNF - A Suspended Blue Ocean (Ladinsky)

SH - Who Can Hear the Buddha Sing? (Ladinsky 298)

SH - The Gift (Ladinsky 83)

MD - From Canaan Joseph Shall Return (Bell)

MD - The Lamp That Needs No Oil (Ladinsky 148)

FNF - Beautiful Hands (Ladinsky)

FNF - I’ve Said it Before and I’ll Say It Again (Crowe) - skipped

AA - TBA - skipped

MD - The Bird of the Garden Sang Unto the Rose (Bell) - skipped

AA - TBA - skipped

FNF - They Call You to Sing (Ladinsky)

SH - A Root in Each Act and Creature (Ladinsky 189)

MD - Now is the Time (Ladinsky 160)

A few numbers were skipped because of time constraints. Some will be on the program of the next Hafez reading, August 12, 2006.

The 2006 Readings

Design and copyright 2009 Freddy Niagara Fonseca

Fairfield Creates