Tahira (Dunya)
Biography
Dunya-yi Khurasani, Tahira (1906-1968), daughter of Mirza Muhammad Habib Allahi, a poet with nom de plume Dunya. Born in Mashahd, she studied in her hometown, devoting most of her time to studying distinguished writers and poets. Her divan runs to about 2,000 couplets. She followed the ‘Iraqi style and composed poetry in the forms of qasida, chama, and mathnavi. She established a literary society whose sessions were attended by talented poetesses of the city. The following couplets are by her:
Poetry is the unique pearl of the soul,
Eternal in the sea of meaning.
The garden of belles-lettres is the new spring,
Verdant in winter and autumn.
Poetry is the delighting instrument,
In each string of which lies sorrow.
Poetry is the cup of red wine,
Reflecting the poet’s bleeding heart.
Poetry is a worldwide idiom,
Expressing human feelings.
Poetry reflects the thoughts of each nation,
The works of any land are reflected in its prose.
Asar-afarinan (3/ 42); Farhang-i Sha’iran-i Zaban-i Parsi az Aghaz ta Imruz (1/ 204-205).
