A poem by Táhirih

negin September 27th, 2009

I would like to share a poem, revolutionary in style as well as content, by the mid-19th century poetess Táhirih:

“Look up! Our dawning day draws its first breath!
The world grows light! Our souls begin to glow!

No ranting shaykh rules from his pulpit throne
No mosque hawks holiness it does not know

No sham, no pious fraud, no priest commands!
The turban’s knot cut to its root below!

No more conjurations! No spells! No ghosts!
Good riddance! We are done with folly’s show!

The search for Truth shall drive out ignorance
Equality shall strike the despots low

Let warring ways be banished from the world
Let Justice everywhere its carpet throw

May friendship ancient hatreds reconcile
May love grow from the seed of love we sow!”

~ Táhirih (1817-1852)
Translation: Jascha Kessler

tahirihIn this poem, the poetess, theologian and heroine Táhirih, living in Persia in the mid-19th century, portrays a world where love and friendship overcome hatred and injustice.

Living herself in a society permeated by corruption, religious fanaticism and discrimination against women, she rises above her environs and unveils a revolutionary vision of a world order, far different from the one that she found herself in.

Being revolutionary is the least you could say about Táhirih and her destiny. As one of the foremost women in Baha’i history, she dedicated her life to her newly-found Faith and its principles concerning the emancipation of women – a cause for which she eventually gave her life. I invite everyone to learn more about the story of her life.


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4 Responses to “A poem by Táhirih”

  1. # farzin barazandeh on 28 Sep 2009 at 11:27 am

    Thank you for making this available. Could you please provide reference for the poetry in the original language? Thanks.

  2. # negin on 28 Sep 2009 at 9:06 pm

    Dear Farzin, the poem has been published in the original Persian and in English in the book “Táhirih – A Potrait in Poetry” by Amin Banani (p.46-47, Kalimát Press 2004).

  3. # Tahirih on 22 Oct 2009 at 6:45 pm

    I love this poem…i too wish the world was a better place.

  4. # The emancipation of women. Tahirih, the poet. « Think…then speak. on 22 Apr 2010 at 9:19 am

    [...] Not only an outstanding woman but a wonderful poet. You can read one of her poems here. [...]

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