Haleh Liza Gafori

Who brings you to praise? Rumi’s great poem of praise to the “you” is to his great friend Shams, and through that friendship, to God.Rumi was a 13th-century Muslim mystic and poet. He left behind a vast body of lyric poetry, metaphysical writings, lectures, and letters, which have influenced Persian, Urdu, and Turkish literature across the centuries.Haleh Liza Gafori is a translator, vocalist, poet, and educator of Persian descent born in New York City. She has sung and translated the poetry of various Persian poets for well over a decade. She is the translator of GOLD (New York Review of Books / NYRB Classics 2022), translations of poems by Rumi, the 13th-century Muslim mystic and poet. Gafori has taught classes at Dartmouth University, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Taos Poetry Festival, and the Omega Institute.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.We’re pleased to offer Rumi’s poem, and invite you to connect with Poetry Unbound throughout this season.Order your copy of Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World and join us in our vibrant conversational space on Substack.

Translator Haleh Liza Gafori discusses the newly translated text 'Gold - Rumi'. The podcast explores Rumi's influence, themes of love, transcendence, self-doubt, and humility through his poetic language.

Haleh Liza Gafori, a poet and translator renowned for her translations of Rumi, dives into the mystical world of 13th-century poetry and its relevance today. She explores how Rumi's work addresses modern crises like anxiety and materialism. Gafori frames poetry as a political act and a means of personal healing, discussing the impact of her Iranian-American identity. With powerful insights, she urges listeners to cultivate joy and inner transformation, connecting personal growth with broader societal change. Rumi's vision inspires liberation from fear and encourages a collective reimagining of a loving society.