The Oasis of Now
Selected Poems by Sohrab Sepehri
translated from the Farsi by Kazim Ali and Mohammad Jafar Mahallati
introduction by Kazim Ali

Sohrab Sepehri (1928-1980) is one of the major Iranian poets of the 20th century. Well-versed in Buddhism, mysticism, and Western traditions, he mingled Western concepts with Eastern ones, creating a poetry unsurpassed in the history of Persian literature. In Iran, his Farsi verses are often recited in public gatherings and lines from them were used as slogans by the protesters in 2009. This bilingual edition, the first U.S. publication of Sepehri, collects poems from three of the poet's most important books, including the incredibly popular Water's Footfall.