The dust that all quiet is
lying,
When others recline on the
ground,
Around me in volumes is flying
Like a desert where whirlwinds
abound,
And Fate in the ship of my
being,
In happiness hurries me past,
But if ever from sorrow I’m
flying
It anchors me fast.
-
Anwari[1]
[1] Anwari (Auhad-uddin Ali Anwari) was born in the Khawaran district of
Khorasan early in the 12th century. He enjoyed the special favour of the Sultan
Sanjar, whom he attended on all
his warlike expeditions. Once, when the sultan was besieging the fortress of
Hazarasp, a fierce poetical conflict was maintained between Anwari and his
rival Rashidi, who was within the beleaguered castle, by means of verses
fastened to arrows. His literary powers were considerable; his exercises in
irony and ridicule make pungent reading. He was adept in astrology and
considered himself to be superior to his contemporaries in logic, music,
theology, mathematics and all other intellectual pursuits.
It appears that Anwari’s patrons after Sultan Sanjar failed to value his services as highly as he did himself; at any rate he considered their rewards inadequate. Either that fact or jealousy of his rivals caused him to renounce the writing of eulogies and of ghazals, although it is difficult to decide at what point in his career this took place. His satires doubtless created him enemies. His declining fortunes led to persistent complaint against capricious Fate. In style and language he is sometimes obscure, so that Dawlatshah declares that he needs a commentary. That obscurity, and a change in literary taste, may be one reason he is not better known today.
Anwari died at Balkh towards the end of the 12th century. The Diwan, or collection of his poems, consists of a series of long poems, and a number of simpler lyrics. His longest piece, The Tears of Khorassan, was translated into English verse by Captain Kirkpatrick. (Source: Wikipedia)
It appears that Anwari’s patrons after Sultan Sanjar failed to value his services as highly as he did himself; at any rate he considered their rewards inadequate. Either that fact or jealousy of his rivals caused him to renounce the writing of eulogies and of ghazals, although it is difficult to decide at what point in his career this took place. His satires doubtless created him enemies. His declining fortunes led to persistent complaint against capricious Fate. In style and language he is sometimes obscure, so that Dawlatshah declares that he needs a commentary. That obscurity, and a change in literary taste, may be one reason he is not better known today.
Anwari died at Balkh towards the end of the 12th century. The Diwan, or collection of his poems, consists of a series of long poems, and a number of simpler lyrics. His longest piece, The Tears of Khorassan, was translated into English verse by Captain Kirkpatrick. (Source: Wikipedia)
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