The Conference of the Birds

Farid ud-Din Attar was a Persian poet, druggist, and social theorist of Sufism, who wrote much of his poetry while treating hundreds of patients a day with his herbal remedies. As a young man he made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and sought wisdom during his travels in Egypt, Damascus, and India. His masterpiece, "The Conference of the Birds", has survived centuries because of its captivating poetic style and its symbolic exploration on the true nature of God. This 4500-line poem follows the birds of the world, each of which hold special significance, as they seek out the Simurgh, a mythical Persian bird much like the phoenix, in hopes that he might be their king. The birds must cross seven valleys on their quest, each of which represents various trials that the individual must pass through to realize the true nature of God. Within the overlying allegory, Attar captivates readers with short, charming stories in beautiful and clever language. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and follows the translation of Edward Fitzgerald.

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The Conference of the Birds

Farid ud-Din Attar was a Persian poet, druggist, and social theorist of Sufism, who wrote much of his poetry while treating hundreds of patients a day with his herbal remedies. As a young man he made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and sought wisdom during his travels in Egypt, Damascus, and India. His masterpiece, "The Conference of the Birds", has survived centuries because of its captivating poetic style and its symbolic exploration on the true nature of God. This 4500-line poem follows the birds of the world, each of which hold special significance, as they seek out the Simurgh, a mythical Persian bird much like the phoenix, in hopes that he might be their king. The birds must cross seven valleys on their quest, each of which represents various trials that the individual must pass through to realize the true nature of God. Within the overlying allegory, Attar captivates readers with short, charming stories in beautiful and clever language. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and follows the translation of Edward Fitzgerald.

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The Conference of the Birds

The Conference of the Birds

The Conference of the Birds

The Conference of the Birds

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Overview

Farid ud-Din Attar was a Persian poet, druggist, and social theorist of Sufism, who wrote much of his poetry while treating hundreds of patients a day with his herbal remedies. As a young man he made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and sought wisdom during his travels in Egypt, Damascus, and India. His masterpiece, "The Conference of the Birds", has survived centuries because of its captivating poetic style and its symbolic exploration on the true nature of God. This 4500-line poem follows the birds of the world, each of which hold special significance, as they seek out the Simurgh, a mythical Persian bird much like the phoenix, in hopes that he might be their king. The birds must cross seven valleys on their quest, each of which represents various trials that the individual must pass through to realize the true nature of God. Within the overlying allegory, Attar captivates readers with short, charming stories in beautiful and clever language. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper and follows the translation of Edward Fitzgerald.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781420960785
Publisher: Digireads.com
Publication date: 02/04/2019
Pages: 38
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.09(d)

About the Author

Sholeh Wolpé is an Iranian-American poet and writer. The author of more than ten books of poems, translations, and anthologies, she is the recipient of a PEN/Heim grant, the Midwest Book Award, and the Lois Roth Persian Translation prize, among others. Wolpé lives in Los Angeles.

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Introduction 11

Acknowledgments 25

The Birds of the World Gather 27

The Birds Confer and Make Excuses 39

The Birds Prepare for the Journey 81

The Birds Begin the Journey 107

The Birds Complain and Boast 119

The Birds Voice Their Fears 163

The Birds Ask About the Beloved 185

The Seven Valleys 249

The Journey of the Birds 321

Epilogue 345

Appendix: Correspondences Between This Translation and the Lines of the Persian Original 367

Bibliography 377

What People are Saying About This

Coleman Barks

Attar, along with Chaucer and Dante, is a great genius of community and how that involves the path toward enlightenment. We are these bird-beings searching for the source of what we are together.

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