Elizabeth T. Gray Jr.
About the Author
Khwája Shams ud-Dín Muhammad Háfiz-i Shírází (d. 1389) is acknowledged to be the urivalled master of the classical Persian ghazal, a brief and strict lyric form. Throughout the Persian-speaking world one hears his verses recited or sung in the bazaar, on the radio, and at spiritual gatherings. His Díwán, or collected works, is held in such high esteem that, like the Qur'án, it is used for divination and augury. Nevertheless, about Háfiz's life we have legends but few facts. We do not even have an authentic text of his Díwán.
About the Translator
Elizabeth T. Gray, Jr. studied classical Persian and the poetry of Háfiz-i Shírází at Radcliffe College, Harvard University, the University of Isfahan, Iran, and with teachers and scholars in the United States, Middles East, and South Asia. At Radcliffe her focus was on writing and translating poetry, where she worked with Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Lowell, and Robert Fitzgerald. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Ms. Gray lives in New York City with her husband, step-daughter, hybrid macaw, Amazon parrot, while she blends writing with corporate advisory work.
Khwája Shams ud-Dín Muhammad Háfiz-i Shírází (d. 1389) is acknowledged to be the urivalled master of the classical Persian ghazal, a brief and strict lyric form. Throughout the Persian-speaking world one hears his verses recited or sung in the bazaar, on the radio, and at spiritual gatherings. His Díwán, or collected works, is held in such high esteem that, like the Qur'án, it is used for divination and augury. Nevertheless, about Háfiz's life we have legends but few facts. We do not even have an authentic text of his Díwán.
About the Translator
Elizabeth T. Gray, Jr. studied classical Persian and the poetry of Háfiz-i Shírází at Radcliffe College, Harvard University, the University of Isfahan, Iran, and with teachers and scholars in the United States, Middles East, and South Asia. At Radcliffe her focus was on writing and translating poetry, where she worked with Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Lowell, and Robert Fitzgerald. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Ms. Gray lives in New York City with her husband, step-daughter, hybrid macaw, Amazon parrot, while she blends writing with corporate advisory work. 
