Books: Translation of Hafiz Reveals the Mysticism of Poet Called "The Voice of God"

"Hafiz: The Voice of God" is a unique modern translation of the poetry of Hafiz and its deep roots in Persian culture.

Hafiz: The Voice of God--A Hundred Odes is Khalid Hameed Shaida's intricate and introspective translation of the 14th century poet's romance and mysticism, preserving the rhyme, rhythm, and flow of the original language and culture.

Shaida, a native Urdu speaker, discovered an interest in Persian poetry after retirement from a long and successful medical career. Hafiz: The Voice of God makes the first 100 of the poet's odes accessible to an English-speaking audience. Taking into account the difficulties of translation, Shaida specifically focuses his version on the overall essence of Hafiz's poetry, which celebrates the celestial in all things earthly.

Shaida deftly uses his ear for poetry - he has published his own ghazals under the name Sham e Gharib - to interpret and preserve the eloquent rhyme and sentiment of one of the great Eastern poets. Hafiz: The Voice of God--A Hundred Odes is a tribute to and a celebration of a unique and intriguing artform.

A native of Delhi, India, Khalid Hameed Shaida joined King Edward Medical College in Pakistan and graduated in 1953. Four years after being drafted into the Pakistan Army, he relocated to the United States, where he has practiced medicine since 1957, and he spent a 10-year stint in Canada. Upon retirement in 2000, he has been translating works of Persian poetry by Khusro, Ghalib, Iqbal, and Hafiz. He and his wife now live in Texas.

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