SANA'I: SELECTED POEMS Translation, Introduction & Notes by Paul Smith One of the most prolific and influential Sufi Master Poets of all time Hakim Sana'i (d.1131) composed many ghazals, masnavis, qasidas, qita's and over 400 ruba'is that influenced all the ruba'i writers that followed him. His long masnavi (rhyming couplets) mystical work The Enclosed Garden of the Truth is said to have had a profound influence on Rumi's composing of his Masnavi and in Sadi's composing his Bustan ('The Orchard'). Included in the Introduction are the Life and Times and Poetry of Sana'i and a history of the...

RABI'A OF BASRA: SELECTED POEMS Translation by Paul Smith RABI'A OF BASRA (717-801). Throughout her life, her Love of God, poverty and self-denial did not waver. She did not possess much other than a broken jug, a rush mat and a brick, which she used as a pillow. She spent nights in prayer and contemplation, chiding herself if she slept because it took her away from her active Love of God. As her fame grew she had many disciples. More interesting than her asceticism is the actual concept of Divine Love that Rabi'a introduced. She was the first to introduce the idea that God should be loved...

RUBA'IYAT OF AL-MA'ARRI Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith CONTENTS: The Life and Works of al Ma'arri, Selected Bibliography, The Ruba'i: Its Form, Use and History, Ruba'iyat of al-Ma'arri. Abu'l- 'Ala al-Ma'arri was born in Ma'arra, south of Aleppo in Syria in 973 A.D. He achieved fame as one of greatest of Arab poets. Al-Ma'arri was stricken with smallpox when four and became blind. His early poems in ruba'i form gained great popularity. As he grew older, he was able to travel to Aleppo, Antioch and other Syrian cities. Al-Ma'arri spent 18 months at Baghdad, then the centre of...

*RUBA'IYAT OF BABA AFZAL* Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith Baba Afzal (1186-1256) came from Maraq near Kashan. He is the author of many Persian works on philosophical and metaphysical subjects and translated the Arabic version of Aristotle's 'The Book of the Soul' into Persian. He was a Sufi and the author of about 500 mystical and at times controversial ruba'is some that have been mistakenly identified as Khayyam's. Some of the themes in these include warnings about the futility of involvement with the things of the world, correspondence between microcosm and macrocosm and...

NIZAMI: MAXIMS Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Nizami (d. 1208) is a true Sufi Master Poet who is most famous for his six books in masnavi form: The Treasury of the Mysteries, Layla and Majnun, Khrosrau and Shirin, The Seven Portraits and his two books on Alexander. He also composed a Divan of approximately 20, ooo couplets mostly in ghazals and ruba'is... tragically only 200 couplets survive. His influence on Attar, Rumi, Sadi, Hafiz, Jami, Shakespeare and others that followed was profound. Included in the Introduction... on the Life, Times & Poetry of Nizami includes chapters on his...

RUBA'IYAT OF 'IRAQI Translation & Introduction by Paul Smith 'Iraqi (1213-1289) was the author of a Divan of spiritual ghazals and ruba'is and the famous work in prose and poetry... Lama'at, 'Divine Flashes'... a classic of Sufi Mysticism. He was born in Hamadan in western Persia and as a child learnt the Koran by heart. He travelled from Persia to India with dervishes where he stayed for 25 years. It is said that on his travels he met Rumi. His grave is in Damascus beside that of another great Perfect Master and poet Ibn al-'Arabi. When seeing these graves a pilgrim stated, "That ('Iraqi) is...

PAN OF THE NEVER-NEVER by Paul Smith Pan is awoken, after sleeping for over a 100 years, in the great wilderness of Wilson's Promontory, Australia (the real Never-Never Land) by a police helicopter searching for Brad Becker, escaped from a children's home outside Wonthaggi, operated by the abusive Mr. Harvey. Pan meets Brad who can't believe who he is but after a fast flight changes his mind. Pan needs help to dig out the lost boys old hideout. While Brad snoozes, Pan flies over the area to check on the changes while he slept and is happy to have an encounter with the 'Pirates' motorcycle...

THE HEALER & THE EMPEROR A Historical Novel of a True Story by Paul Smith Monsieur Ferrier, lifelong friend of extraordinary poet, composer, linguist, author, mystic and healer... Fabre D'Olivet stands at his gravesite. Ferrier remembers Fabre's strange encounter with the unforgettable Chrisna, Le Revolution and the influence of libertines Sigault and his sister Amelie until the destinies of the future healer and emperor collide in 1800 when Napoleon seizes power and Fabre criticizes him. After a bizarre assassination attempt Napoleon imprisons him. Before imprisonment Fabre has met his...

THE GREATEST GAME A Novel of Sport, Comedy, Romance and Adventure (with a kick ) Paul Smith THE GREATEST GAME unites sport, comedy and romance with a 'lost in the wilderness' adventure. It is the story of a clash of rival codes of football (Australian and American), two sets of lovers and two cultures: the most ancient and modern. It takes up the challenge to discover... what is The Greatest Game? It is spectacular, hilarious, sexy, fast-paced and full of surprises and witty conversations. Get to know the innocent (American) youth abroad, the tough Irishman, the down-to-earth beautiful...