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Learn Persian Poetry Online — Rumi, Hafez & Ferdowsi in the Original Farsi
Five Poets You Can Study in the Original Farsi
Persian poetry produced some of the most influential writers in human history. At Danaa School, you study their works in the original Persian — guided by a native tutor who explains every word, metaphor, and cultural reference.
Jalaluddin Rumi
jalâl-od-din rumi · جلالالدین رومی 1207–1273 · Balkh / KonyaSufi mystic and author of the Masnavi — six books of spiritual poetry on divine love, inner transformation, and the soul's longing. The best-selling poet in the United States today.
Hafez
hâfez · حافظ 1315–1390 · ShirazMaster of the ghazal — lyric poems of love, wine, and mysticism. His Divan is found in nearly every Iranian home and used for fāl-e Hafez, the Persian tradition of seeking guidance by opening a random page.
Ferdowsi
ferdowsi · فردوسی 940–1020 · TusAuthor of the Shahnameh (Book of Kings) — the national epic of Iran. Over 50,000 couplets of mythology, heroism, and history. He single-handedly preserved the Persian language after the Arab conquest.
Saadi
sa'di · سعدی 1210–1291 · ShirazAuthor of the Gulistan and Bustan — masterworks of moral philosophy and humanism. His verse "The children of Adam are limbs of one body" is inscribed at the United Nations headquarters.
Rudaki
rudaki · رودکی 858–941 · Rudak, TajikistanThe father of Persian poetry. Rudaki is the earliest major poet to write in New Persian, establishing the language as a literary medium. His work laid the foundation for every Persian poet who followed.
Why Studying Persian Poetry Transforms Your Farsi
Poetry is not an add-on to language learning — in Persian culture, it is the language. Iranians quote Hafez in daily conversation, recite Rumi at weddings, and name their children after Shahnameh heroes.
Vocabulary That Sticks
Poetic language is memorable by design — rhythm, rhyme, and imagery embed words in your memory far more effectively than flashcards or vocabulary lists.
Cultural Fluency
Understanding Persian poetry means understanding Iranian culture. References to Hafez, Rumi, and Shahnameh appear in everyday conversation, film, music, and politics.
Pronunciation Mastery
Reading poetry aloud teaches rhythm, stress, and intonation. Persian poetry has strict metre (vazn) — practising it naturally improves your spoken Farsi.
Deep Grammar Intuition
Poetry exposes you to sentence structures, verb forms, and poetic registers that prose alone never teaches. You develop a natural feel for what sounds right in Farsi.
Emotional Connection
Translations cannot capture the beauty of Rumi or Hafez. Reading in the original Farsi lets you feel what millions of Persian speakers feel when they hear these verses.
Join a Global Conversation
Rumi is the best-selling poet in the US. Hafez is quoted worldwide. Studying Persian poetry connects you to a global community of readers across cultures.
Persian Poetry Forms You Will Study in Your Lessons
Persian literature developed unique poetic structures over centuries. Your tutor introduces each form through real examples — helping you recognise and appreciate them as you learn to read Persian.
Ghazal
غزلLyric poem of love and longing. 5–15 couplets sharing a common rhyme. The signature form of Hafez — each couplet is a self-contained world of meaning.
Masnavi
مثنویNarrative poem in rhyming couplets. Rumi's six-book spiritual epic and Ferdowsi's Shahnameh are both masnavis — long stories told through verse.
Ruba'i
رباعیFour-line poem (quatrain) with AABA rhyme. Made famous worldwide by Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat — philosophical musings on fate, pleasure, and mortality.
Qasida
قصیدهLong formal ode used for praise, moral instruction, or satire. Often composed for royal courts — structured, ceremonial, and rhetorically powerful.
What a Persian Poetry Lesson at Danaa Looks Like
Our poetry classes are not lectures — they are guided sessions where you read, pronounce, translate, and discuss Persian verses with a native tutor who loves this literature.
Read the Original Farsi Text
Your tutor presents a poem in the original Farsi script. You read it aloud together, working through pronunciation and metre. No prior reading ability needed — your tutor helps you letter by letter if necessary.
Unpack Every Layer
Line by line, your tutor explains vocabulary, grammar, metaphors, and cultural references. You discover why Hafez mentions wine (it is not about alcohol) and what Rumi means by "the beloved."
Discuss and Reflect in Farsi
After understanding the poem, you discuss its meaning in Farsi. This is where real language learning happens — expressing your thoughts about philosophy, love, and life in Persian.
Online Persian Poetry Courses for Every Level
Literature Enthusiasts
You have read Rumi in English translation and want to experience the real thing. You do not need to know Farsi yet — your tutor introduces the language through the poetry itself.
Intermediate Farsi Learners
You can already read and speak basic Farsi and want to deepen your skills through classical literature. Poetry takes your vocabulary, grammar, and cultural understanding to the next level.
Academics and Writers
You study Persian literature, Middle Eastern studies, or comparative literature. Our tutors provide deep literary analysis and can focus on specific poets, periods, or themes.
What Poetry Students Say About Danaa School
"I had read Rumi translations for years. When my Danaa tutor read the same verses in Farsi, I heard a completely different poem. The rhythm, the sounds, the wordplay — none of it survives in English. I was speechless."
"My tutor focused on Hafez's ghazals. After 3 months I could open the Divan, read a poem aloud, and understand most of it without help. At Nowruz, I did fāl-e Hafez for my family — they were amazed."
"I study comparative literature at university and needed to read Shahnameh in the original. My Danaa tutor walked me through the epic metre, the archaic vocabulary, and the cultural context. It transformed my thesis."
Deepen Your Poetry Lessons With These Articles
Our blog extends what you learn in class — deep dives into specific poems, poets, and literary traditions to enrich your Farsi studies at Danaa School.
The Golden Age of Persian Poetry — A Complete Guide
From Rudaki to Hafez — the era, its poets, and the poetic forms they perfected.
Read Article →Rumi's Wound Quote — "The Wound Is Where the Light Enters"
Word-by-word breakdown of Rumi's most quoted image, with original Farsi and the ney (reed flute) story behind it.
Read Article →The Simurgh in Shahnameh — Persia's Mythical Phoenix
The story of the wise bird who raised Zal and helped bring Rostam into the world — with Farsi vocabulary from the legend.
Read Article →Questions About Persian Poetry Lessons
No. Many students begin poetry classes as their first introduction to Farsi. Your tutor reads the poem aloud, transliterates it, translates line by line, and explains every word. You learn the language through the poetry — vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation all come naturally through the verses. Some students later add speaking or reading classes alongside poetry.
In Persian, Rumi's full name is pronounced "jalâl-od-din-e rumi" (جلالالدین رومی). "Jalal" rhymes with "halal." The "od-din" means "of the faith." "Rumi" refers to Rum (the Roman/Byzantine territory — modern Turkey), where he lived most of his life. Iranians typically call him "Mowlânâ" (مولانا), meaning "our master."
"Shahnameh" is pronounced "shâh-nâ-meh" (شاهنامه). "Shah" means king, "nameh" means book. Together: "The Book of Kings." The stress falls on the second syllable: shâh-NÂ-meh. It is Ferdowsi's masterwork — over 50,000 couplets of Persian mythology and history.
Yes. For younger learners (ages 8+), tutors select age-appropriate poems — simple verses from Saadi, short Rumi quatrains, and storytelling passages from Shahnameh. Poetry is how many Iranian children first fall in love with their language. It builds vocabulary, rhythm, and cultural pride in a way that textbooks cannot.
They are the same person. "Hafez" (حافظ) is the standard modern Persian pronunciation and transliteration. "Hafiz" is an older English spelling based on Arabic pronunciation. Both refer to Khwaja Shams-ud-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi, the 14th-century poet from Shiraz. At Danaa School, we use "Hafez" as it reflects the Persian pronunciation.
Private poetry lessons at Danaa School start from £12 per session, reflecting the specialised nature of literary analysis. Your first lesson is a free trial — no credit card required. Sessions are typically 45–60 minutes. You can focus on a single poet (Rumi only, for example) or explore multiple poets and periods — your tutor designs the curriculum around your interests and level.
Read the Words That Changed the World
Book a free poetry lesson with a native Persian tutor. In 45 minutes, you will read your first Rumi or Hafez verse in the original Farsi — and understand why translations are never enough.
Book a Free Poetry Lesson →No credit card needed · 25+ tutors · From £12/lesson
