The Cross of God: A Poem in the Masnavi Form by Paul Smith

+THE CROSS OF GOD+ A Poem in the Masnavi Form by Paul Smith The masnavi is the form used in Persian, Turkish, Urdu and other poetry to write epic ballads or romances and is essentially a Persian invention. Each couplet has a different rhyme with both lines rhyming. This is to allow the poet greater freedom to go into a longer description of the subject he has chosen to present. All of the great, long, narrative poems of Persia were composed in this form that is not known in classical Arabic poetry. The most famous poems written in this form are the ‘Shahnama’ (Book of the Kings) of Firdausi, the ‘Enclosed Garden of the Truth’ of Sana’i, the ‘Five Treasures’ of Nizami, the ‘Conference of the Birds’ and ‘The Book of God’ and many others by ‘Attar, the ‘Seven Thrones’ of Jami, the ten masnavis of Amir Khusraw and of course the great ‘Masnavi’ of Rumi. Here is a masnavi by poet and translator Paul Smith based on the following from Isaiah 53: “It is certain, the cross could not have existed without the efforts of Jesus, who is responsible for the tree, the nails & the tools that fashioned the cross; as well as the materials that fashioned the scourge, which caused His suffering.” It explores with much beauty and insight the relationship between an extraordinary father and son and one’s spiritual responsibility. It is a long poem for the purity inside of each of us. 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 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. Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 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, Mu’in, Amir Khusrau, Mu’ir, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Shah Latif Lalla Ded, Mu’in, Mahsati, Makhfi, Bulleh Shah, Shah Latif and others, and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children’s books and screenplays.