Iraj Mirza
Iraj Mirza Jal'ul
Mamalik (1874-1925), born
in Tabriz, the most most popular
poet of the Qajar period, is considered along with Obeyd-e Zakani as one of the best
satarists of Persian literature. He was familiar with Russian, Turkish and French languages.
His grandfather was Fath Ali Shah, the Qajar monarch. Well known poems by Iraj include Madar
(Mother) and Arefnameh, an attack on his fellow poet, Aref Qavini. Iraj is noted
for the simplicity of his poetic diction. In his verse he uses the actual words of
everyday speech. The origin of this tendency, which may be said to represent a reaction
against the pompous language of the classicists, has come to be identified with his name.
Through him poetic language has become rich in many colloquial words and expressions.
Zohreh and Manouchehr is one of his famous poetic works. Here Iraj
Mirza tells the story based on the Greek myth of Venus and Adonis where Zohreh rejects the
gods and comes to Earth where she is overcome by the sheer beauty of Manouchehr in his
armor. He rejects her advances while she attempts his first seduction. She goes to great
pains to explain the beauty of love making and finally has her way. The waking Manouchehr
can only find a depression in the ground where she lay, having returned to the gods.
