July 29, 2020
Dear friends of the Persian garden,
This week, our friend Nasrin Vossoughian has chosen a poem by Fereydoun Moshiri (1926–2000), a celebrated contemporary Iranian poet. Nasrin also shares some thoughts about how the poem relates to her visit to the garden Bagh-e Fin in Kashan, as well as some beautiful pictures she has taken.
“Upon my most recent trip to Iran I had the opportunity to visit Bagh-e Fin in Kashan, a magical garden laid out as a Chahar Bagh, based on the four gardens of paradise mentioned in the Quran. Dating back to the 16th century, this is a uniquely beautiful garden with a series of transverse water axes ranging in size from narrow to wide. I have walked the grounds of this garden many times and been taken by its calming serenity. Its fountains and green remind me of Untermyer Gardens—two gardens on opposite sides of the world providing the same escape from the noise around them. For me, this poem describes a moment of reflection. A reflection of love and loss which I often feel when I spend time in gardens like this. A look at one’s past, present, and future in the flowing waters of the fountains and in the green of the cypress trees. A return to the past, when things seemed simpler. Below you will find pictures of my most recent visit.
Dear friends of the Persian garden,
This week, our friend Nasrin Vossoughian has chosen a poem by Fereydoun Moshiri (1926–2000), a celebrated contemporary Iranian poet. Nasrin also shares some thoughts about how the poem relates to her visit to the garden Bagh-e Fin in Kashan, as well as some beautiful pictures she has taken.
“Upon my most recent trip to Iran I had the opportunity to visit Bagh-e Fin in Kashan, a magical garden laid out as a Chahar Bagh, based on the four gardens of paradise mentioned in the Quran. Dating back to the 16th century, this is a uniquely beautiful garden with a series of transverse water axes ranging in size from narrow to wide. I have walked the grounds of this garden many times and been taken by its calming serenity. Its fountains and green remind me of Untermyer Gardens—two gardens on opposite sides of the world providing the same escape from the noise around them. For me, this poem describes a moment of reflection. A reflection of love and loss which I often feel when I spend time in gardens like this. A look at one’s past, present, and future in the flowing waters of the fountains and in the green of the cypress trees. A return to the past, when things seemed simpler. Below you will find pictures of my most recent visit.
“The poet Fereydoun Moshiri was one of the most prominent contemporary Persian poets of both modern and classical styles. His poetry often touched on life and death, love and destiny, and social environment. The poem You Are Not Here to Behold follows, in English and in Farsi, and may also be enjoyed on this audio recording.”
Kind regards,