A review by zsabella
Khosrow and Shirin by Nezami Ganjavi

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this is for the yearners who’d like to read about one of the most famous couples in persian literature. I didn’t expect to like shirin and khosrow’s story so much (crude/deceitful prince + self-assured princess), but dick davis’ translation was a smooth intro to a tricky medieval romance. 

I loved the imagery and there are many natural motifs (sun/moon, fruits, flowers, jewels) I’ve rarely liked in romantic poems that are done well here. I thought the prose was lovely and sensual and worked well as courtship between khosrow and shirin, but a modern reader today might side-eye at the racially tinged metaphors (though there aren’t many). this is also how I found out I don’t mind ABAB poems 😅 even if the rhymes look simple on page, there’s PLENTY turns of phrase that can be enjoyed on their own. 

some favorite passages:
 
“Two hunters met together in one place 
Hunting each other, and now face to face… 
Two archers slim as cypress trees, whose darts 
Were aimed by love at one another's hearts.”

“When you embrace, another spring appears 
With violet petals you adorn her ears 
And whisper secrets there, as heart to heart 
You list your sorrows when you were apart…” 

First Khosrow asked, "What country gave you birth?" 
Farhad said, "Love, the noblest place on earth.”

“By God who made the body and the soul 
Combine in us to form a single whole, 
My hope is that your face’s comely light 
Will turn to dawn the darkness of my night.”
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