Poetry
دیوان
Not translated into English
Haji Ismail Siah · 1931
Synopsis
The Persian divan of Hajji Esmail Siah, printed in Herat in 1931. The Encyclopaedia Iranica presents its author as a humorous and satirical poet: it is through laughter and satire that this collection stands apart from the lyrical divans of Kabul, faithful to the so-called Indian style or to the old masters of Dari.
Context
In its overview of Afghan literature, the Encyclopaedia Iranica singles out Hajji Esmail Siah, the only poet the page describes as a humorist and satirist, after listing the heirs of the Indian style and those of the Dari traditions. It dates the printing of his divan in Herat to 1310 of the solar calendar, that is 1931. It is one of the few collections printed outside Kabul that the page mentions.
Who it is for
Poems in Persian, with no translation. It is better to know that verse satire is an old genre of Persian poetry.
Prizes and reception
No prize. Iranica records him as the satirical poet in its list of modern Afghan authors.