The Happy Virus - Hafiz

A few days ago in class we read some poems written by the Persian poet -Hafiz. The poem that I most liked was "The Happy Virus". Even though the poem is just a few lines long, undoubtedly grabbed my attention. Once more Hafiz managed to bring us the beauty of love and life which nowadays have a deep impact in our lives. Through "The Happy Virus", Hafiz transmits  a contagious virus which is meant to be - love. "I caught the happy virus last night, when I was out singing beneath the stars", that is how the poem starts, making us immediately understand the climax of the poem. Like other poems of Hafiz, "The happy Virus" conveys a message too. Although many times people hide their true feelings about love, I believe that there is no escape from love. Once it captures, you have to deal with it...We can notice it from the line where the author says "kiss me" meaning that the love is already presented on that time.

If it is not too dark- Hafiz

BIOGRAPY

Well, even though I tried to find out about Hafiz's life, I could not find any credible source :S except one. His real name was Shamseddin Mohammad and obviously he was a muslim. He was born on 1325 a.d. in Shiraz, in South-Sentral Iran. From this I understood that he was an Iranian poet and for it is the first time that I read poems from Iranian writers. He had two brother and was married in his early twenties and had a child. After his father death, his family moved to his uncle’ s home. He used to deliver bread to many citizens and by doing this work he meets Shakh-e Nabat- a young woman of incredible beauty. Many of his poems are addressed to Shakh-e Nabat. He died at age of 69. 

What others say about Hafiz:

Goethe: In his poetry Hafiz has inscribed undeniable truth indelibly ... Hafiz has no peer!
Emerson: Hafiz defies you to show him or put him in a condition inopportune or ignoble ... He fears nothing. He sees too far; he sees throughout; such is the only man I wish to see or be.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: ...You may remember the old Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who take the tiger cub, and danger also for whosoever snatches a delusion from a woman.' There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much knowledge of the world.
Edward Fitzgerald:  The best musician of Words.
Gertrude Bell:  It is as if his mental eye; endowed with wonderful acuteness of vision, had penetrated into those provinces of thought which we of a later age were destined to inhabit.
A. J. Arberry:  Hafiz is as highly esteemed by his countrymen as Shakespeare by us, and deserves as serious consideration.

THE FULL POEM

If It Is Not Too Dark

Go for a walk, if it is not too dark.
Get some fresh air, try to smile.
Say something kind
To a safe-looking stranger, if one happens by.

Always exercise your heart's knowing.

You might as well attempt something real
Along this path:

Take your spouse or lover into your arms
The way you did when you first met.
Let tenderness pour from your eyes
The way the Sun gazes warmly on the earth.

Play a game with some children.
Extend yourself to a friend.
Sing a few ribald songs to your pets and plants -
Why not let them get drunk and wild!

Let's toast
Every rung we've climbed on Evolution's ladder.
Whisper, "I love you! I love you!"
To the whole mad world.

Let's stop reading about God -
We will never understand Him.

Jump to your feet, wave your fists,
Threaten and warn the whole Universe

That your heart can no longer live
Without real love!

~ Hafiz ~

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM:

This poem was wonderful; it is like it was dedicated to someone. The title itself tells us that dark days exist too. At the beginning I thought that this poem was related to title itself but at the end I realized that the poem was related to love-the magical feeling. The line that I mostly liked was “That your heart can no longer live-without real love”. Doubtfully, that is true. If you do not have your lover by your side, you will feel empty. The author suggests that when you are feeling bad and you cannot even talk then walks in the streets, makes the strangers laugh and gives them at least a smile. Maybe, these thing would make your day be brighter…

Love Story (Movie)

Where is the good in goodbye????


I can say that "Love Story" is one of the best love stories ever told as well as the movie. The imaginary characters that I had in my mind somehow became true ones in the movie. The movie begins with Oliver saying the same words as were written in the novel. Maybe the movie was not quite good as the novel was, because in the novel we could capture every single detail of any situation; while in the movie there was just a single detail. The thing that captures my attention is that in the novel there was not mention the part where they play in the snow or maybe it was mentioned at least I dont remember. Another thing that grabbed my attention is that the girl in the role of Jennifer was not acting as a real actress. She seems to me fake; it was like she memorized the whole text and she was not feeling what she was saying. Finally, I really liked the novel "Love Story"; the young lovers confronting every problem together one of them dies as a consequence of an illness. Oliver seems to be totally destroys by the death of Jennifer. But still what does it take a minute to say hello and a whole time to say goodbye????

Love Story (Chap 8-22)

In those chapters we know that Jenny was awarded with her degree and she invites in her graduation ceremony all her relatives. It is interesting how Oliver tells about the rings, even though they soon will be married none of them was wearing rings in that day. As Oliver said "none would be offended". On the other hand, Jenny introduced Oliver to her family and teased him that he "still is not a college graduate". But soon Oliver graduated from Harvard and he was so proud of himself. It seems like everything goes as they planed; they graduated from college and now they just wait for the marriage. Well, the day when they got married finally came. In the ceremony they invited just their close relatives. After they got married they moved to North Cambridge in a small apartment and they were surviving without the help of Oliver's father. I noticed that Oliver and his father did not have a good relationship; Oliver's father is a rude man without feeling who shows no affection to Oliver. In the story we find him indifferent toward his son and always opposing his son’s desires.  After that, it comes the part when Oliver goes to meet Jenny’s father. At the beginning he was afraid that Jenny’s father will not accept him-but that was not the case. Opposite from Oliver’s father, Jenny’s father likes Oliver a lot. Then, it comes the part when Oliver applies for scholarship. On the other hand, in the story we notice Oliver a little bit aggressive. He and Jenny were invited to his's father 60th birthday. Oliver did not want to go and Jenny told him that they must go because his father is caring for him. Even though Jenny insists on going at birthday party, at the end they did not go. Then, she calls Oliver's father in order to tell him that they will not be going, she is so sorry and that Oliver loves him so much. When Oliver heard this he told her "Why dont you get the hell out of my life"? Well, from that moment we can see that Jenny was upset with Oli and decided not to stay home rather than escaping from him. While Oliver was seeking for her everywhere, Jenny was waiting in front of their home. Oliver apologies to her and Jenny say “I come here because I forgot the key”. Oliver again says to her “Im sorry”. Then, Jenny replies “Love is never having to say you are sorry”. When everything was going in a perfect way, there seems to be something stops this young couple from being totally happy. Jenny is diagnosed with leukemia. Oliver somehow feels guilty because he does not let Jenny to go to Paris (her dream was to visit Paris) and wants to make her dream a reality but Jenny rejects his offer. She said to him you don’t need to do this because I just need you. At the end of the novel Oliver is left in a tragic world together with Phill expecting for the worse to happen. Jenny dies and her last words were “Thanks, Ollie”.