'IRAQI: SELECTED POEMS Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith 'Iraqi (1213-1289) was the author of a Divan of spiritual ghazals and ruba'is and the famous work in prose and poetry... Lama'at, 'Divine Flashes'... a classic of Sufi Mysticism. He was born in Hamadan in western Persia and as a child learnt the Koran by heart. He travelled from Persia to India with dervishes where he stayed for 25 years. It is said that on his travels he met Rumi. His grave is in Damascus beside that of another great Perfect Master and poet Ibn al-'Arabi. When seeing these graves a pilgrim stated, "That ('Iraqi) is the Persian Gulf and this (Ibn al- 'Arabi) is the Arabian Sea." Introduction: The Life & Times & Poems of 'Iraqi, Selected Bibliography, Forms in Classical Pers1an Poetry Used by 'Iraqi. Rubai's, Ghazals, Qasida, Masnavis, Tarji-band. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these beautiful, mystical poems. 156 pages. 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. "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 over 80 books of Sufi poets from 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, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Shah Latif, Mahsati and others, and his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays.