The Festival of Spring, from the Díván of Jeláleddín Rendered in English Gazels after Rückert's Versions, with an Introduction and a Criticism of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám

The collection brings the voice of a medieval Persian mystic into crisp, singable English, preserving the sweeping lyricism that made his verses the “splendour of the faith” for centuries. Rendered from Rückert’s earlier versions, each gazel unfolds like a fragrant garden, where love for the divine intertwines with friendship, nature, and the subtle play of light and shadow. The translator’s careful attention to transliteration and occasional Turkish spellings lets listeners sense the poem’s original texture while remaining fully accessible.

An introductory essay frames the poet’s place among world literature, comparing his soaring imagination to that of Dante, Keats and Goethe, and offering a thoughtful critique of the famed Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. This context deepens the listening experience, showing how the poet’s ecstatic devotion and lyrical craft continue to inspire across cultures. The result is a meditative journey, inviting anyone who loves poetry to hear the ancient “wreath of imperishable lyric song” breathe anew.