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I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy | 
 enlarge | Author: Hafiz
Creator: Daniel Ladinsky
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy New: $8.46
You Save: $6.54 (44%)
New (37) from $8.46
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 8011
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 112
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.4
ISBN: 0143037811
Dewey Decimal Number: 891.5511
EAN: 9780143037811
ASIN: 0143037811
Publication Date: September 26, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20080725212931T
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Product Description
From the renowned translator of The Gift, a rich collection that brings the great Sufi poet to Western readers
To Persians , the poems of Hafiz are not classical literature from a remote past but cherished wisdom from a dear and intimate friend that continue to be quoted in daily life. With uncanny insight, Hafiz captures the many forms and stages of love. His poetry outlines the stages of the mystics path of lovea journey in which love dissolves personal boundaries and limitations to join larger processes of growth and transformation. With this stunning collection, Ladinsky has succeeded brilliantly in translating the essence of one of Islams greatest poetic and spiritual voices. BACKCOVER: If you havent yet had the delight of dining with Daniel Ladinskys sweet, playful renderings of the musings of the great saints, I Heard God Laughing is a perfect appetizer. . . . This newly released edition of his first playful foray into Hafizs divinely inspired poetry is essential reading . . . . Ladinsky is a master who will be remembered for finally bringing Hafiz alive in the West.
Alexandra Marks, The Christian Science Monitor
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Nothing Better February 28, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I've read other translators of Hafiz, Rumi, etc. and while I do not speak the original language, I cannot imagine a more truthful and present-time translation of Hafiz totally in keeping with the spirit of his words. I am a poet myself and the good ones make meanings that transcend their own words. Ladinsky taps into Hafiz's meanings and the joy that bubbles up from it is contagious. Every single poem makes Hafiz's spirit come alive garbed in bright shiny eyes and compassionate heart -- looking right at you. It is said that in Arab countries the average person on the street can and will quote Hafiz by heart. You need crucial images to do that. A humdrum or more accurate interpretation in English will not stick to the ears nor the heart. How's this for memorable lines:
"You better start kissing me -- or else!"
"You don't have to act crazy anymore --
We all know you were good at that."
"The stars get clearly drunk
And crazy at night
And throw themselves
Across the sky."
"I know the way you can get
When you have not had a drink of Love."
"Do you know how beautiful you are?
I think not, my dear.
Yet Hafiz could set you upon a Stage
And worship you forever!"
"I have a thousand brilliant lies
For the question, How are you?"
And finally,
"A poet is someone
Who can pour Light into a spoon,
Then raise it to nourish
Your beautiful parched, holy mouth."
If God is the Light and Hafiz is the spoon, then Daniel Ladinsky is the one holding you upright to receive the gift.
I heard God Laughing... January 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a marvelous book of poems. Almost every poem was touching. I highly
reccomend this book.
 Peep into a soul in search of divine October 3, 2007
It is a beautiful expression of poets journey towards divine love.
Really deep and simple at the same time
Ecstatic and Visceral...glorious September 25, 2007
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
What my heart feels when I view a sunset or a baby giggling may differ markedly from what another feels or interprets. Ladinsky's work may leave some cold...which is okay as we all view life through self-adopted filters. But if you startled by an occasional or surprising glimpse of a numinous and swirling piece of the Divine and an unexpected and overwhelming sense of love and compassion, you'll find these poems a homecoming. The 'debate' over the 'accuracy' of Ladinsky's translation of Hafiz is distracting and, in fact, quite irrelevant. It doesn't matter if you dance with Ladinsky or Hafiz or Rabia or Mirabai...the poetry is ecstatic and the dance exquisite.
A very interesting collection of poetry. September 4, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a book of quite short poems that show great playfulness and wisdom.
They are neither nieve or cynical but positive without shying away from the darker side of nature. Also a good translation, the poems flows nicely.
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