A Cup of Sin: Selected Poems

by Simin Behbahani, Farzaneh Milani (Editor), Kaveh Safa (Editor)

Simin Behbahani’s collection contains some of the most formative work of twentieth-century Persian literature. Written over almost a half-century, much of her poetry reflects the traumatic experiences that have shaped Iranian revolution and war. Behbahani balances artful inquiry and shocking realism in both her language and imagery to probe the depths of political, cultural, and moral oppression. In the traditional verse of the ghazal, she improvises with meter to echo and provide new interpretations.

Genres: Poetry, Iran

210 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1998

About the author

Farsi: سیمین بهبهانی

Reviews

[Kiof · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few dozen pages of Dazzling words full of shimmering anger. Powerful stuff. A loving, complex translation, too. Blending ancient with the modern, blending east with the west. She is easily one of our greatest living poets...

[EIJANDOLUM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is me: bloody vengeance, […]
I have come to brand death on your lips

-

I'm not her. My eyes are silent.
In her eyes were hidden so many conversations.
The sad love in those night-colored narcissi
held more secrets than the night.

[Seeing · Rating 5 out of 5]

My other favorite Poetry book