September 18 marks Persian Lit. Day

Persian Poetry and Literature Day in Iran falls on September 18 marking the death anniversary of great Iran poet Mohammad-Hossein Shahriyar.

Born in 1906, the poet is one of the most popular contrary poets in Iran.  Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Behjat Tabrizi, mainly known by his pen name, Shahriar, was a notable Iranian poet of Azerbaijani ethnicity, who wrote in Azerbaijani and Persian

The poet has been the subject of a documentary series ‘Shahriyar’ by Kamal Tabrizi.

Shahyar’s poem about Imam Ali (AS) is one of his most memorable pieces for every Iranian. The opening lines of the couplet reads, “O Ali!  The bird of bliss, what a portent of God thou art/For, thy shadow hast over-shadowed one and all.”

His poems are mainly influenced by the well-known Iranian poet Hafez. His most famous Azari language poem 'Heidar-Baba' has so far been translated into many languages.

The poet departed this life on September 18, 1988.

AG/AG