Poems from the Divan of Hafiz & The Diwan of Zeb-un-Nissa

Poems from the Divan of Hafiz

Author HAfiz, Transl.Gertrude Lowthian Bell

SHEMSUDDIN MAHOMMAD, better known by his poetical surname of Hafiz, was born in Shiraz in the early part of the fourteenth century. His names, being interpreted, signify the Sun of the Faith, the Praiseworthy, and One who can recite the Koran; he is further known to his compatriots under the titles of the Tongue of the Hidden and the Interpreter of Secrets. The better part of his life was spent in Shiraz, and he died in that city towards the close of the century. The exact date either of his birth or of his death is unknown. He fell upon turbulent times. His delicate love-songs were chanted to the rude accompaniment of the clash of arms, and his dreams must have been interrupted often enough by the nip of famine in a beleaguered town, the inrush of conquerors, and the flight of the defeated.


The Diwan of Zeb-un-Nissa

by Zeb-un-Nissa, translated by Magan Lal and Duncan Westbrook [1913]

Zeb-un-Nissa (b. 1637, d. 1702) was the oldest daughter of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir. Her name means 'most beautiful of all women.' A Sufi, she was well educated in both the Quran and the sciences, and was fluent in Arabic, Persian and Urdu. She started to write Persian poetry secretly at the age of 14. She never married, preferring her literary work. Her works included the Diwan, a collection of her poetry, excerpts from which are included in this Wisdom of the East volume.