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Hafiz of Shiraz was widely regarded as an infidel in his day. Today he is recognized in the East not only for the excellence of his poetry, but also as a Sufi illuminate. His major work (The Diwan, from which the poems in this book are taken) is found beside the Koran in the homes of the devout. In the West, Hafiz-a contemporary of Dante-is admired for his love-poetry; Goethe, among others, acknowledged his influence. His work stands both as a literary monument and as a teaching instrument. His poetry appeals, at its overt level, to the ordinary man and woman, while yet containing those ingredients which enable the soul of the Seeker to perceive itself.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.