Learn Persian With Chai And Conversation

Kaveh Akbar is the Iranian-American author of the critically acclaimed and heavily lauded novel Martyr! In our long-awaited conversation we dive deep into the themes of his powerful book, Martyr, which explores the human cost of so-called “collateral damage” and the real-world trauma often reduced to mere statistics in Western media. I had so much I wanted to ask Kaveh about the deeply personal and timely relevance of his work, especially in light of ongoing global events. Check out the full episode, and let me know what you think!Related Links:Kaveh's webpageKaveh on Instagram

In this second part of the discussion for Hafez's barafshān, we go over the first two lines of the poem in detail.

In this introductory lesson on Hafez's poem barafshān, we're joined by musician Fared Shafinury to go over the overall meaning of the poem. You can hear Fared's version of this poem in this track from his debut album.

In this follow up episode about Khayyam's poem rendee deedam, we go over the poem word by word, line by line, to understand each part individually. We'll also learn how to use the particular words and phrases in current conversation.

In this lesson about clips from the movie A Separation by Asghar Farahadi, we watch a conversation between Nader and Hojjat, Razieh's husband, about potential work Hojjat will be doing for Nader. We're joined in this episode by friend of the show, Yara Elmjouie.

In this special shabé shehr episode, we are joined by Alan Eyre, the first (and last) ever Persian language spokesperson for the U.S. State Department. Alan has a little book with lines of his favorite Persian poetry, and he shares one of those poems with us in this episode.

In this lesson, we watch a clip of the movie A Separation by Asghar Farahadi in which Nader and Razieh have a conversation about the potential for her husband to come work for Nader. We're joined in this episode by friend of the show, Yara Elmjouie.

In this lesson, we go over the last two lines of the poem aybé rendān makon by Hafez. The lines are as follows: حافظا روزِ اجل گر به کف آری جامیhāfezā roozé ajal gar bé kaf āree jāmeeOh Hafez, if you have a chalice in your hand when you dieیک سر از کویِ خرابات بَرَندَت به بهشتyek sar az koo-yé kharābāt barandat bé beheshtThey’ll take you directly from the winehouse street to heaven

In this lesson, we go over the following lines of the poem aybé rendān makon by Hafez:نه من از پردهٔ تقوا به درافتادم و بسna man az pardé-yé taghva bā dar oftādam o basپدرم نیز بهشتِ ابد از دست بهشتpedaram neez behishté abad az dast behesht

In this lesson, we go over the following lines of the poem aybé rendān makon by Hafez: همه کس طالبِ یارند چه هشیار و چه مستhamé kas tālebé yārand ché hoshyār o ché mastهمه جا خانهٔ عشق است چه مسجد چه کِنِشتhamé jā khāna-yé ʿeshgh ast ché masjed ché kenest

In this discussion on Hafez's aybé rendān makon, we go over the third and fourth line of the poem.

In this lesson, we go over the individual words and phrases in the first two lines of the poem, aybé rendān makon by Hafez: عیبِ رندان مَکُن ای زاهدِ پاکیزه سرشتʿaybé rendān makon ay zāhedé pākeezé sereshtکه گناهِ دگران بر تو نخواهند نوشتké gonāhé deegarān bar tu nakhāhand nevesht

In this introductory lesson to one of Hafez's most famous poems, aybé rendān makon, we're joined by Muhammad Ali of Persian Poetics to go over the overall meaning of the poem and give a bit of an introduction to Hafez and his significance in Iranian culture. In subsequent lessons, Leyla will be going over the word by word, phrase by phrase, to provide an even deeper understanding to the poem.

In this lesson, we cover the words and phrases learned in the poem, and how to use them in everyday conversation.Related links:khosh bāsh by Khayyam

In this shabé shehr episode, we go over the poem khoshā emshō by the poet Baba Taher with special guest Yara Elmjouie. This poem is about enjoying the night, and the company of the night- it's short, simple and sweet, and reminds you to take pleasure in the joy of living.

In this lesson, we watch a clip of a conversation between Nader and Razieh, who he is hoping to convince to come work for him. We are joined in the lesson by Yara Elmjouie.

In this new series, we watch clips chosen by Yara Elmjouie from the movie A Separation. 

In this lesson, we go over the last lines of the poem payāmé naseem by Hafez: می‌ای دارم چو جان صافی و صوفی می‌کند عیبش may-ee dāram chō jān sāfee ō soofee meekonad aybashخدایا هیچ عاقل را مبادا بخت بد روزیkhodāyā heech āghel rā mabādā bakht bad roozee

In this lesson, we go over the following lines of the poem payāmé naseem by Hafez: جدا شد یار شیرینت کنون تنها نشین ای شمعjodā shod yāré sheereenat konoon tanhā nesheen ay sha'am که حکم آسمان این است اگر سازی و گر سوزیké hokmé āsemān een ast agar sāzee ō gar soozee