An audio book has been published in Armenian language from a selection of poems by the acclaimed 20th century Persian poet Parvin Etesami.
The book is a joint project of the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan and Iran-Armenia Cultural Club, known as ‘Mehr,’ according to the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization.
Armenian reciter Aida Asatourian has recited the poems in the audio version which targets Armenian intellectuals and literati. Its purpose is to familiarize them with Iranian culture and civilization.
The producers of the book are hopeful to make similar audio texts from the works of celebrated Persian poets such as Ferdausi (940-1020 AD), Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209), Rumi (1207-1273), Sa’di (1203-1291), Rudaki (858-941), Hafez (1326-1390), Omar Khayyam (1048-1131) and Baba Tahir (11th century).
Parvin Etesami (1907-1941) began writing poetry at the early age of seven or eight. Her first works were published by the Iranian magazine Bahar in the early 1920s, when she was a teenager.
Unaffected by the reformist trends of her time, she followed the Persian tradition of poetry and remained loyal to its form and substance till the end.
Shy by nature and isolated by traditional norms of conduct, Etesami never expressed inhibited feelings of love and longing. Several of her poems, including five entitled ‘Arezuha’ (Longings), are perfect examples of lyrics. Her ‘Safar-e Ashk’ (Journey of a Teardrop), counts among the finest lyrics ever written in Persian.
