The popularity of Yunus Emre, who is often referred to as the Turkish national poet, has endured for six centuries. Yunus is the most important representative of early Turkish mysticism; he can be considered the founder of Alevi-Bektasi literature, and his influence on later tekke poetry was enormous. His ilahis (hymns) have played an important role in sufi ceremonies. Grace Martin Smith's translation of Yunus's poetry will acquaint the non-Turkish reader with the art and thinking of one of Turkey's most significant poets and will be helpful to students of both modern and Ottoman Turkish and to all those interested in Islamic poetry and piety.
This collection of poems introduces a general readership to Yunus Emre (1240-1321), called the "greatest folk poet in Islam." An unlettered Turkish shepherd who sang mystical songs that are still popular today, he was the first in a great tradition of Turkish Sufi troubadours who celebrated the Divine Presence as the intimate Beloved and Friend. Yunus's verse conveys the spirit and philosophy of Islamic mysticism in simple, earthy language.
YUNUS EMRE SELECTED POEMS (Large Print & Large Format Edition) Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Yunus Emre (d. 132o) is considered one of the most important Turkish poets having a great influence on Turkish literature from his own time until today. His poems concern divine love as well as human love of the Divine as God and the Perfect Master, Beloved, Friend and human destiny and weakness. Little is known of his life other than he became a Sufi dervish Perfect Master (Qutub). A contemporary of Rumi, it is told the two great souls met: Rumi asked Yunus what he thought of his huge work, the Mesnevi. Yunus said, "Excellent! But I would have done it differently." Surprised, Rumi asked how. Yunus replied, "I'd have written, 'I came from the eternal, clothed myself in flesh, took the name Yunus.'" This illustrates his simple approach that has made him loved by many. He died in 1320 the year Hafiz was born and was a great influence on him, Hafiz knew Turkish. Here is the largest selection of his poems translated into English in the form of the gazel he mainly used & a mesnevi. The rhyme-structure has been kept as well as beauty and meaning of these beautiful, powerful, mystical poems. Introduction: Life, Times, Form and History & Function of the gazel, Sufism & Poetry, Turkish Poetry & Language, Bibliography. Large Print 16pt & Large Format Paperback 8" x 10" Pages 350 Paul Smith (b.1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Baba Farid, Mu'in, Lalla Ded, Seemab, Jigar, Abu Nuwas, Ibn al-Farid, Iqbal and others and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books, plays and screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa
DIVAN OF YUNUS EMRE Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Yunus Emre (d. 1320) is considered one of the most important Turkish poets having a great influence on Turkish literature from his own time until today. His poems concern divine love as well as human love of the Divine as God and the Perfect Master, Beloved, Friend and human destiny and weakness. Little is known of his life other than he became a Sufi dervish Perfect Master (Qutub). A contemporary of Rumi, it is told the two great souls met: Rumi asked Yunus what he thought of his huge work, the Mesnevi. Yunus said, "Excellent! But I would have done it differently." Surprised, Rumi asked how. Yunus replied, "I'd have written, 'I came from the eternal, clothed myself in flesh, took the name Yunus.'" This illustrates his simple approach that has made him loved by many. Here is the largest selection of his poems translated into English mainly in the form of the gazel that he often used. The rhyme-structure has been kept as well as beauty and meaning of these beautiful, mystical poems. Introduction on his Life & Times, Form and History & Function of the gazel & mesnevi on Sufism & Poetry, Turkish Poetry, Turkish Language, Bibliography. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" Pages 255 COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith (b.1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Baba Farid, Mu'in, Lalla Ded, Seemab, Jigar, Abu Nuwas, Ibn al-Farid and others and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books, plays and 12 screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com
YUNUS EMRE: THE TURKISH DERVISH SELECTED POEMS Translation, Introduction Paul Smith Yunus Emre (d. 1320) is considered one of the most important Turkish poets having a great influence on Turkish literature from his own time until today. His poems concern divine love as well as human love of the Divine as God and the Perfect Master, Beloved, Friend and human destiny and weakness. Little is known of his life other than he became a Sufi dervish Perfect Master (Qutub). A contemporary of Rumi, it is told the two great souls met: Rumi asked Yunus what he thought of his huge work, the Mesnevi. Yunus said, "Excellent! But I would have done it differently." Surprised, Rumi asked how. Yunus replied, "I'd have written, 'I came from the eternal, clothed myself in flesh, took the name Yunus.'" This illustrates his simple approach that has made him loved by many. Here is the largest selection of his poems translated into English mainly in the form of the gazel that he often used. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these beautiful, mystical poems. Included... an Introduction on his Life & Times and the Form and History & Function of the gazel and a chapter on Sufism & Poetry, Turkish Poetry and the Turkish Language, Bibliography. Pages 288 COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'."It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith (b.1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Baba Farid, Mu'in, Lalla Ded and others and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books, plays and screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa
YUNUS EMREGhazals'I came from the eternal, clothed myself in flesh, took the name Yunus.'Translation & Introduction Paul SmithYunus Emre (d. 132o) is considered one of the most important Turkish poets having a great influence on Turkish literature from his own time until today. His poems concern divine love as well as human love of the Divine as God and the Perfect Master, Beloved, Friend and human destiny and weakness. Little is known of his life other than he became a Sufi dervish Perfect Master (Qutub). A contemporary of Rumi, it is told the two great souls met: Rumi asked Yunus what he thought of his huge work, the Mesnevi. Yunus said, "Excellent! But I would have done it differently." Surprised, Rumi asked how. Yunus replied, "I'd have written, 'I came from the eternal, clothed myself in flesh, took the name Yunus.'" This illustrates his simple approach that has made him loved by many. Here is the largest selection of his poems translated into English in the form of the ghazal that he often used. The rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these insightful, mystical poems. Introduction on his Life & Times and Form and History & Function of the Ghazal on Sufism & Poetry, Turkish Poetry, Turkish Language, Bibliography. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" Pages 254COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'."It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart.Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Baba Farid, Mu'in, Lalla Ded, Seemab and others and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books, plays and 12 screenplays.
THE BOOK OF TURKISH POETRY Anthology of Sufi, Dervish, Divan, Court & Folk Poetry from the 12th - 20th Century Translations, Introductions, Paul Smith Introduction includes chapters on...The Turkish Language, Turkish Poetry, The Gazel in Turkish Poetry, The Roba'i in Turkish Poetry, The Mesnevi in Turkish Poetry, The Qasida in Turkish Poetry and a Glossary. Included with each selection of a particular poet is a brief biography plus a list of further reading. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these beautiful, often mystical poems. THE POETS: Ahmed Yesevi, Sultan Valad, Yunus Emre, Kadi Burhan-ud-din, Nesimi, Ahmedi, Suleyman Chelebi, Sheykhi, Ahmed Pasha, Mihri, Zeyneb, Jem, Necati, Zati, Pir Sultan, Khayali, Fuzuli, Baqi, Huda'i, Nef'i, Yahya, Haleti, Na'ili, Niyazi, Nabi, Nedim, Fitnet, Galib, Esrar Dede, Leyla Khanim and Veysel. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" Pages 341. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. "I was very impressed with the beauty of these books." Dr. R.K. Barz. Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets from the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Baba Farid, Mu'in, Lalla Ded, Mahsati, Iraqi, Ghalib and others and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays. www.newhumanitybooksbookheaven.com
AHMED YESEVI & ALISHER NAVOI First Two Chagatai (Early Turkish) Sufi Master Poets SELECTED POEMS Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Ahmed Yesevi, born in Sayram in 1093, and died in 1166 in Hazrat-e Turkestan, (both cities now in Kazakhstan), was a Turkish poet and Sufi or Dervish who exerted a powerful influence on the development of mystical orders throughout the Turkish-speaking world. Yesevi is the earliest known Turkish poet who composed poetry in an early Turkish dialect, Chagatai. He was a pioneer of popular mysticism, founded the first Turkish order, (the Yeseviye), that quickly spread over the Turkish-speaking areas. Yesevi had numerous students/followers in the region. His poems created a new genre of mystical folk poetry in Central Asia and influenced many Sufi/Dervish poets including 'Attar, Rumi, Hafiz (who both knew Turkish) and Yunus Emre. The book of his poems, the Divan-e Hikmet (Book of Wisdom), consists mainly of gazels and murabbas (foursomes), Kosmos (robi'as srung together) and munajat (prayers). All are generously represented in this translation in the correct forms for the first time. Alisher Navoi (1441 - 1501) a truly universal man, was of Uyghur origin who was born and lived in Herat (now north-western Afghanistan) like Jami who he knew. He is generally known by his pen name Navoi ('the weeper'). Alisher Navoi was among the key writers who revolutionized the literary use of the Turkic languages. Navoi himself wrote primarily in the Chagatai language and produced 30 works over a period of 30 years, during which Chagatai became accepted as a prestigious and well-respected literary language. Navoi also wrote in Persian (under the pen name of Fani), and to a much lesser degree in Arabic and Hindi. Navoi's best-known poems are found in his four divans, or poetry collections, which total 50,000 couplets. Each part of the work corresponds to a different period of a person's life. He is still greatly revered throughout the Middle East, Asia & Russia and there are many building etc. named after him. Many of his gazels & robai's are represented in this translation in the correct forms for the first time. Introduction: Turkish & Sufi Poetry & Life & Times & Poetry of both poets, On the Gazel & the Roba'i in Turkish Sufi Poetry, Selected Bibliographies. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" 415 pages. Illustrated
NIYAZI MISRI A Perfect Master Sufi Poet of Turkey SELECTED POEMS Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Niyazi Misri (d. 1694) was a poet of considerable talent and stands a long way ahead of the throng of Mevlevi and Khalveti sheykhs who had recently been the interpreters of mystic philosophy in Turkish verse. Sufism is the key-note of this poet's work; whatever else is to be found in his Divan is of secondary importance. He was born at the little town of Aspuzi, near Malati. After receiving his first lessons in mystic lore from his father who was a Naqshbendi dervish, he studied in Mardin and Cairo and at the village of Elmali in Anatolia. It is obvious from many of his poems that at some time in his life he became a Perfect Master (Qutub) a God-realized soul. Although Niyazi wrote a good deal of prose his poetical work is confined to his Divan, which is restricted to gazels and qasidas... some of which are in Arabic while in others the lines are alternately in Arabic and Turkish. Introduction on his Life, Poetry & Times, Turkish Language & Poetry, Form of the Gazel & the Qasida, God-Realization & The Perfect Masters, Sufism in Poetry, Selected Bibliography. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept and the meaning of these beautiful, powerful, spiritual poems. Large Print (16pt) & Large Format (8 x 10) Paperback Edition. Pages 199 Paul Smith (b.1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Nesimi, Baba Farid, Lalla Ded, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Bulleh Shah, Mahsati Seemab, Jigar, Hali and many others, as well as poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and a dozen screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa