The Gift by Hafiz Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Gift
Book Review: Authenticity???
Summary: 5 Stars
I think someone would have to be mentally ill to not comment in a review on the beauty and significance of this extraordinary book. In reading all the reviews to date there seems to be some question as to the authenticity of this work. I feel there is an undeniable truth about the verse on these pages, which is: that these words have come to us - somehow - by a rare act of grace and contain some of the most profound, enchanting and humorous poetry I have ever read in the English language. If you need some liberation, if you want to know about the interior worlds of a saint, again I say - this book is a rare act of grace that somehow the earth and sky gave us.Book Review: Bad news for lovers of "The Gift"
Summary: 1 Stars
The poems in this book are ALL originals by Daniel Ladinsky. They have no connection at all with any poems ever written by Hafez.
This fact is, by now, admitted. The crucial item is that Daniel Ladinsky cannot read Persian (Farsi) -- that is, he cannot read the poems which he claims to have "translated."
So, the fans of "The Gift" will have to give up bragging at cocktail parties that they JUST LOVE THE POETRY OF HAFEZ.
Well, they don't know the poetry of Hafez. The poetry of Hafez looks like this:
Hafez: Ghazel # 1
O Boy! Pour the wine! Then pour it again:
At first love seemed easy, but then came the pain.
The scent of his locks, lovely musk in the dawn,
Arouses your longing -- and then your heart's gone.
The Master saith: "Stain your prayer-mat with wine!"
His knowledge is deep, and his guidance divine.
Pitch camp in his heart?! What rest will you know?
When dawn splits the sky, away you must go!
Dark night, crashing seas, the dread whirlpool's roar:
How can they know this, at ease on the shore?
I followed my will; it brought me disgrace:
No secret that, for it's thrown in my face.
Are you longing, Hafez, for his presence?
Don't wander away, but stay in attendance.
And when you behold his beloved face,
You can leave this world of time and space.
(Note for Amazon: translation done by me, and not copyright.)
Have fun looking for this in the works of Daniel Ladinski.
Book Review: Beautiful Gift
Summary: 5 Stars
This book of verse is a wonderful modern translation and interpretation of the 14th century mystic spiritual Sufi Master Hafiz's thoughts.
I liked very much these uplifting verses:
"Even after
all these years,
the Sun never says
to the earth
"You owe me."
Look what happens -
with a love like that,
it lights the whole sky."
Book Review: Beautiful and celebratory poetry
Summary: 5 Stars
Only knowing Hafiz, through this book I am not in a position to judge whether the book does him justice or whether too much of the tranlator's own poetical and mystical nature has come into play. What I can say is, that I truly enjoyed reading it as many of the poems appealed to my heart and provoked some reflection of what we do. Like this short poem called "Find a better job":
Now
That
All your worry
Has proven such an
Unlucrative
Business,
Why
Not
Find a better
Job
Book Review: Beauty Itself
Summary: 5 Stars
If you know love, you know God. If you don't - read Hafiz, and you will be on a good path to know both.