"A new generation of readers will now be able to enjoy this masterpiece of classical Persian literature. A work that combines the best literary traditions of entertainment with philosophical and moral import, this poem has been read and imitated in Persophone societies for almost a millennium. Meisami's translation is based on a sound knowledge of the Persian text and its poetical nuances. She achieves the daunting goal of conveying the original's highly metaphoric register in English verse that encourages reading, whether for pleasure or performance, silently or aloud. The scholarly introduction, notes and glossary provide valuable cultural and literary contexts. This book serves as the best introduction to a major poet of world literature and to one poem in his renowned quintet." --Sunil Sharma, Boston University