Martin Bidney

Indian, Persian, Arabian Poetic Treasures Martin Bidney

Here are lyrical treasures from lands where the heights of poetic achievement have been reached over the course of centuries. The first third of the book is focused on a Hindu-based world, the last two thirds on worlds of Islam. In ancient story poems by Kalidasa preternatural realms intensify the highest blessings we enjoy (or, at times, enjoy-and-suffer) on our glorious earth. I feel here an implicit metaphysic of life-making energy as an overflowing and spendthrift strength. My dialogues with poet Bhatrihari elaborate this feeling. The Islam-nurtured anecdotes, parables, legends, metaphors, and other vehicles of spiritual nourishment challenge equally the mind and the emotions-adding, as well, copious portions of wit and irony, satire and whimsy and humor. Friedrich Rückert (1788-1866), a German poet and translator of genius who learned 44 languages, made these rare poetic treasures available for me to render into English wordsongs for you. I write verse "replies" to all the poems, and together they form an extended time-travel "interview."