Foroogh Farrokhzaad (1935-67) is the leading feminist of Iran of this century and the greatest Persian poetess of modern style. A Rebirth [Tavallodi Digar] is a collection of a woman’s new identity as “woman as lover” rather that “woman as domestic” in Iran. Of course, as lover, she was also an explorer. Thus Foroogh falls into the tradition of poet as explorer well exemplified by the French poets Arthur Rimbaud and Gerard de Nerval. Her significance is in her exploratory capacity for love and life as an independent woman. A Rebirth represents a breakthrough in woman’s writing in Iran; female eroticism and passion are explored in a context of the traditional female seclusion in household activities, finally breaking free from those bounds and bonds. In the appended poem, "Lets Bring Faith to the Onset of the Cold Season," in her lament for a dead lover she is said to have predicted her own death from a traffic accident—at the untimely age of thirty-two. Foroogh's poetry will stand as a monument to the human struggle for freedom and meaningful life in the face of the chaos and kaleidoscope of oppression. Since her death, no woman's voice has risen in Iran to take Foroogh's place and no young poetess shows promise of being able to be a voice of focused eloquence. This is even more so with the advent of the anti-feminist regime of the Islamic Republic in Iran in 1979.

Title on added t.p.: Tavalludī-i dīgar. Persian Farsi collection.

Introduction /David Martin -- Poems -- Those days -- Transcience -- Sun's shining -- On the Earth -- Travel poem -- The wind will carry us -- Ghazal -- In the green waters of summer -- Amidst the darkness -- Forgive her -- Perception -- Union -- Lovingly -- Question -- Barriers -- Friday -- Wind-up doll -- The moon's loneliness -- My love -- In the cold streets of night -- In eternal twilight -- Bog -- Earth signs -- Gift -- Night visitation -- Green fantasy -- Couple -- Conquest of the garden -- Red rose -- "Ali's mother said to him one day" -- The bird was only a bird -- O land full of jewels -- I shall salute the sun a second time -- You were killing me -- A rebirth -- Notes -- Epilogue : Let's bring faith to the onset of the cold season -- Critical essay : Formation, confrontation, and emancipation in the poetry of Foroogh Farrakhzaad / Farzaneh Milani.

Aiso Library Women's History month selection Aiso Library Poetry month selection