THE SUFI TARJI-BAND, A STROPHE POEM Selected Poems by Farrukhi, 'Iraqi, Obeyd Zakani, Hafiz, Jahan Khatun, Shah Ni'matu'llah, Hatef & Nazir: Translati

THE SUFI TARJI-BAND, A STROPHE POEM Selected Poems by Farrukhi, 'Iraqi, Obeyd Zakani, Hafiz, Jahan Khatun, Shah Ni'matu'llah, Hatef & Nazir Translation & Introduction Paul Smith A Persian or Urdu Sufi tarji-band consists of a series of stanzas or strophes each containing a variable but equal, or nearly equal, number of couplets all in one rhyme... as in the ghazal and qasida, these stanzas being separated from each other by a series of isolated rhyming couplets that mark the end of each strophe. If the same couplet (or refrain) is repeated at the end of each band, or strophe, the poem is a tarji-band, or 'return-tie'. From Farrukhi (the probable inventor of this form) to 'Iraqi, the first great Sufi poet to take it up, to the outrageous Sufi satirist Obeyd Zakani, to the greatest of all the Persian lyric Sufi poets Hafiz, to his friend the tragic princess Jahan Khatun, Shah Ni'matu'llah the Sufi Master, to Hatef, considered by many to be the master of this form and lastly to the great Urdu poet and Sufi Nazir Akbarabadi. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept and beauty and meaning of these sometimes satirical, honest, eye-opening, powerful, loving and occasionally controversial and at times deeply mystical poems. Introduction: Form of the Tarji-band, Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art & Use of Poetry. Life, Times & Poetry of each poet with 'Further Reading'. Large Print (14pt) and Large Format (7" x 10") Edition. Pages 223. 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, Iqbal, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Lalla Ded, Hali and many others, and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books, screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa