Hushang Ebtehaj
Encyclopedia
Hushang Ebtehaj with the pen name
of H. E. Sayeh (ه. ا. سایه, or H. E. Sayeh, lit. Shade) is an eminent Iranian poet of the 20th century, whose life and work spans many of Iran
's political, cultural and literary upheavals.
, Iran, and had his primary schooling there before moving to Tehran
. His first book of poetry, with an introduction by eminent poet Mehdi Hamidi Shirazi
, was published when he was 19 years old. During Iran's open period following WWII, Sayeh got involved in various literary circles and contributed to various literary magazines such as Sokhan, Kavian, Sadaf, Maslehat, and others. Unlike many other literary figures of the time who got deeply involved in politics and left-leaning activities, Sayeh stayed true to his social and political consciousness but refrained from deeper involvement. He was employed at the National Cement Company for 22 years while continuing his literary activities. Later he was invited by the national Iranian Radio to produce the traditional music program "Golhaye Taze" and "Golchin Hafte."
After the 1979 Iranian Revolution
and the ensuing suppression, Sayeh spent a year in prison for his writings. After his release, he began work on "Hafez, by Sayeh," a verse-for-verse study of the various publications of Hafez
. In 1987, he moved to Cologne
, Germany, with his family and lives there.
, 1996.
Sayeh published his first collection of poetry while he was still a high school student in the northern province of Gilan, Iran. His total output, however, remains small because of his preoccupation with high craftsmanship and exact phraseology. In the political climate of the 1940s, Sayeh was an ardent advocate of the poetry of social commitment. His own early poetry reveals his concern with purposive literature.
Sayeh has also written a collection of lyrical poems (ghazal
) in the classical style. Here, he reveals an easy mastery of traditional forms—the lyrical ode, in particular—which he uses to celebrate both the sacred and the secular moments of life. Sayeh's poetry, at times highly emotional, is always remarkable for its convincing directness and unconcealed sentiment.
Other
Please note: English names of books are not official, but the Wikipedia author's translation. See talk page.
Translations by Fayre Makeig:
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of H. E. Sayeh (ه. ا. سایه, or H. E. Sayeh, lit. Shade) is an eminent Iranian poet of the 20th century, whose life and work spans many of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
's political, cultural and literary upheavals.
Life
He was born February 25, 1928 in RashtRasht
Rasht is a city in and the capital of Gilan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 551,161, in 159,983 families.Rasht is the largest city on Iran's Caspian Sea coast. It is a major trade center between Caucasia, Russia and Iran using the port of Bandar-e Anzali...
, Iran, and had his primary schooling there before moving to Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. His first book of poetry, with an introduction by eminent poet Mehdi Hamidi Shirazi
Mehdi Hamidi Shirazi
Mehdi Hamidi Shirazi was an Iranian poet and university professor.- References :...
, was published when he was 19 years old. During Iran's open period following WWII, Sayeh got involved in various literary circles and contributed to various literary magazines such as Sokhan, Kavian, Sadaf, Maslehat, and others. Unlike many other literary figures of the time who got deeply involved in politics and left-leaning activities, Sayeh stayed true to his social and political consciousness but refrained from deeper involvement. He was employed at the National Cement Company for 22 years while continuing his literary activities. Later he was invited by the national Iranian Radio to produce the traditional music program "Golhaye Taze" and "Golchin Hafte."
After the 1979 Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
and the ensuing suppression, Sayeh spent a year in prison for his writings. After his release, he began work on "Hafez, by Sayeh," a verse-for-verse study of the various publications of Hafez
Hafez
Khwāja Shamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī , known by his pen name Hāfez , was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry are to be found in the homes of most Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day...
. In 1987, he moved to Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany, with his family and lives there.
Poetry
Taken from Daftar-e Honar magazine article by Ahmad Karimi-HakkakAhmad Karimi-Hakkak
Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak is a Persian literary figure and Iranist.Ahmad Karimi Hakkak was Professor of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Washington for nineteen years. He is currently a professor and founding director of the Roshan Center for Persian Studies in the School of...
, 1996.
Sayeh published his first collection of poetry while he was still a high school student in the northern province of Gilan, Iran. His total output, however, remains small because of his preoccupation with high craftsmanship and exact phraseology. In the political climate of the 1940s, Sayeh was an ardent advocate of the poetry of social commitment. His own early poetry reveals his concern with purposive literature.
Sayeh has also written a collection of lyrical poems (ghazal
Ghazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
) in the classical style. Here, he reveals an easy mastery of traditional forms—the lyrical ode, in particular—which he uses to celebrate both the sacred and the secular moments of life. Sayeh's poetry, at times highly emotional, is always remarkable for its convincing directness and unconcealed sentiment.
Works
Poetry- The First Songs, 1946 (نخستین نغمهها)
- Mirage, 1951 (سراب)
- Bleak Travails I, 1953 (سیاه مشق ۱)
- Nocturnal, 1953 (شبگیر)
- Earth, 1955 (زمین)
- Pages from the Longest Night, 1965 (چند برگ از یلدا)
- Bleak Travails II, 1973 (سیاه مشق ۲)
- Until the Dawn of the Longest Night, 1981 (تا صبح شب یلدا)
- Memorial to the Blood of the Cypress, 1981 (یادگار خون سرو)
- Bleak Travails III, 1985 (سیاه مشق ۳)
- Bleak Travails IV, 1992 (سیاه مشق ۴)
- Mirror in Mirror, Selected Poems, 1995 (آینه در آینه)
- Dispirited, 2006 (تاسیان) (non-ghazal poems)
Other
- Hafez, by Sayeh, 1994 (حافظ به سعی سایه)
Please note: English names of books are not official, but the Wikipedia author's translation. See talk page.
Poems in Translation
Translations by Mojdeh Marashi and Chad Sweeney:- “Arghavaan.” Washington Square Journal, 2008
- “Search/Circle” and “Moan of the Mirror.” Poetry International 12, 2008
- “Kayvaan Was a Star,” “Sterile,” “The Fall,” and “Bird in the Cage.” Pingpong, Henry Miller Library Journal, Issue 3, 2008.
- "Sunset on the Green" and "Image." Subtropics, Issue 6, Fall 2007.
- “Fright,” “Life” and “The Few Thousand Hopes of the Children of Adam.” Crazyhorse Issue 72, 2007.
- “Night’s Alley.” American Letters & Commentary 19, 2007.
- “The Art of Stepping Through Time” and “Black and White.” Indiana Review 29.2, Winter 2007.
- “Maybe,” “Story” and “Dove’s Wings” Seattle Review, Spring 2007.
- “Numbers” and “Red.” Fourteen Hills, Fall 2005.
Translations by Fayre Makeig:
- "A False Dawn" Center for the Art of Translation
- "Migration" Center for the Art of Translation
External links
- about Hushang Ebtehaj (in Persian)
- Voice of Sayeh reading his poems (includes photos) on Iranian.com.
- Hushang Ebtehaj:کتاب ها(آثار) هوشنگ ابتهاج (in Persian)
- نگاهی به کتاب "تاسیان" سایه (in Persian)
- "Migration" Center for the Art of Translation Web Exclusive Content, Translated by Fayre Makeig (English)