Hafez

Hafez was a Persian poet and mystic who is widely regarded as one of the greatest lyric poets of all time. He was born in Shiraz, Iran, in the early 14th century and lived during a turbulent period of political and religious change. He received a classical religious education and became proficient in Arabic and Persian languages, as well as Islamic sciences. He also memorized the Quran at an early age and earned the title of Hafez, meaning 'the memorizer' or 'the keeper'. Hafez was influenced by Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam that seeks to attain union with God through love and devotion. He expressed his spiritual experiences and insights in his poetry, using the genre of ghazal, a form of lyric poem that consists of rhyming couplets with a common refrain. His poems are rich in imagery and symbolism, often using metaphors of wine, taverns, lovers, and nightingales to convey his mystical themes. His poems also reflect his criticism of hypocrisy and fanaticism among the religious and political elites of his time. Hafez's poetry is widely admired for its musicality, spontaneity, and beauty. His Divan, a collection of his poems, is considered a masterpiece of Persian literature and a source of inspiration for many poets and artists. His poems are also popular among ordinary Iranians, who recite them by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings. Hafez's poetry has been translated into many languages and has influenced many writers, such as Goethe, Emerson, Thoreau, Borges, and Garcia Lorca. Hafez died in Shiraz in 1390 or 1389 and was buried in a garden that he often mentioned in his poems. His tomb is a site of pilgrimage and celebration for his admirers.