Poetry
دیوان
Not translated into English
Timur Shah Durrani · 1790
Synopsis
The lyric poems of Timur Shah, second ruler of the Durrani dynasty. According to the Encyclopaedia Iranica, he writes them in the manner of Hafez, Saeb and Kalim, the Persian masters of the ghazal, as do the men of letters at his court, whom he protects and some of whom come from Iran to seek his patronage.
Context
The Encyclopaedia Iranica cites Timur Shah among the Durrani sovereigns who generously protect letters, and among the poets of their court who write in the classical Persian manner. His courtier Mir Hotak Popalzai writes in the same manner, and two poets from the west, Shehab Torshizi and Forughi Esfahani, come to seek his protection. The transfer of the capital to Kabul makes that city the centre of the kingdom's literary life.
Who it is for
Poems in Persian, without translation. It helps to know a little of the classical Persian ghazal, that of Hafez and his heirs.
Prizes and reception
No prize. Iranica names him the first of the poets of the Durrani court, ahead of the scholars of his entourage.