Ehsan Yarshater
"Children’s Poet"
Iran Nameh, spring 1988
If children or new learners were to make a statue in tribute to the poet they knew best, a poet that dedicated a lifetime to their service and education, that poet would not be Farokhzad or Shamloo or Nima. Nor would it be Sa’di(1) or Parvin (2) or Iraj (3) or Bahar (4) . That poet would be and still is Yamini Sharif.
Yamini has been writing poems for children for about half a century. Suitable poems, thoughtful poems, happy and entertaining poems; poems that are fit for their level of understanding in their different ages; poems that makes them feel good and are at the same time educational and teach them lessons of life and good manners.
Good poetry for children does not happen by just writing simple. There are fine points that require both natural talent and knowledge of the technique. Children like rhythm and melodic repetitions. Most lyrics such as Atal Matal (5) do not have a clear logical meaning. Rhythm and melodic manipulations are what make poems attractive to children.
Children’s world is a different one that is not yet tamed by adults’ logics. There are freedoms in that world that we grown ups have lost. Very few people can go back to that world and live with children and write poems and stories in their language. Yamini Sharif is leading them all. His poems rejuvenate and satisfy the children and with their effects take the adults back to their childhood. If parents who value the education and happiness of their children were to pick their hero poet for such values, whom else but Yamini Sharif would they pick?
Recently a selection of Yamini’s poems titled “Half a Century in the Garden of Children’s Poetry” for children of different ages has been published by Ravesheno Publications. This is the best gift that parents can give to their children. Specially parents who reside outside Iran and who would like to keep the bound between their children and Iran and Farsi language.
In its sweet, refreshing and educational preface Yamini remembers his family, stories that he had heard in his childhood, time he lived next to Farrokhi Yazdi (6) in Darband, Shemiran and encouragements that he received from Yazdi, beginning of his poetry works, his studies in Basic Sciences Institute and then the Advanced Sciences Institute, his teaching carrier, leaving for the USA and his studies in teachers College in Columbia University, publication of his first poems in magazines and in school books, etc. Meanwhile he presents a clear and colorful picture of the history of Children’s literature in recent half century and recognizes the efforts of those who worked with him
Yamini Sharif truly, steadily and with a praise worthy perseverance has dedicated his life to the children of Iran. He has founded and managed several periodicals especially for children and adolescents. In addition to writing poems for children has authored and translated stories and plays and assisted the “Children’s Book Council” in its very useful programs. His published works amount to 27. In addition to his own writings he has commissioned many artists like Momayez (7), Davallo(8) and Kalantari(9) to work for children.
In his preface he points out to a serious shortcoming in Iran’s academic college programs that is lack of courses on children’s literature and its history and principles.
If one day such course is offered the value of Yamini Sharif, Jabar Baghcheban(10), Ebrahim Baniahmad(11), Touran Mirhadi(12), Lili Ahi (Iman)(13), Kianoush(14), Parvin Dowlatabadi(15) and some other poets and writers such as Shamloo(16), Azad(17) and Farjam(18) whose works have been published by “Center for Development of Minds of Children and Youths” with fine pictures and other poets that Yamini has mentioned in his preface and I am not familiar with them will be better understood.
By reading the sweet and rhythmic poems of Yamini I journeyed back to my elementary school years and regretted that in our times school children were deprived of such poetry. We had “In the name of the lord of life and wisdom” and “Naser Khan and Mansoor Khan”(19) and “Anyone came and built anew”(20) and a book with a simple and childlike name of “Benefits of Manners”(21)!
"Children’s Poet"
Iran Nameh, spring 1988
If children or new learners were to make a statue in tribute to the poet they knew best, a poet that dedicated a lifetime to their service and education, that poet would not be Farokhzad or Shamloo or Nima. Nor would it be Sa’di(1) or Parvin (2) or Iraj (3) or Bahar (4) . That poet would be and still is Yamini Sharif.
Yamini has been writing poems for children for about half a century. Suitable poems, thoughtful poems, happy and entertaining poems; poems that are fit for their level of understanding in their different ages; poems that makes them feel good and are at the same time educational and teach them lessons of life and good manners.
Good poetry for children does not happen by just writing simple. There are fine points that require both natural talent and knowledge of the technique. Children like rhythm and melodic repetitions. Most lyrics such as Atal Matal (5) do not have a clear logical meaning. Rhythm and melodic manipulations are what make poems attractive to children.
Children’s world is a different one that is not yet tamed by adults’ logics. There are freedoms in that world that we grown ups have lost. Very few people can go back to that world and live with children and write poems and stories in their language. Yamini Sharif is leading them all. His poems rejuvenate and satisfy the children and with their effects take the adults back to their childhood. If parents who value the education and happiness of their children were to pick their hero poet for such values, whom else but Yamini Sharif would they pick?
Recently a selection of Yamini’s poems titled “Half a Century in the Garden of Children’s Poetry” for children of different ages has been published by Ravesheno Publications. This is the best gift that parents can give to their children. Specially parents who reside outside Iran and who would like to keep the bound between their children and Iran and Farsi language.
In its sweet, refreshing and educational preface Yamini remembers his family, stories that he had heard in his childhood, time he lived next to Farrokhi Yazdi (6) in Darband, Shemiran and encouragements that he received from Yazdi, beginning of his poetry works, his studies in Basic Sciences Institute and then the Advanced Sciences Institute, his teaching carrier, leaving for the USA and his studies in teachers College in Columbia University, publication of his first poems in magazines and in school books, etc. Meanwhile he presents a clear and colorful picture of the history of Children’s literature in recent half century and recognizes the efforts of those who worked with him
Yamini Sharif truly, steadily and with a praise worthy perseverance has dedicated his life to the children of Iran. He has founded and managed several periodicals especially for children and adolescents. In addition to writing poems for children has authored and translated stories and plays and assisted the “Children’s Book Council” in its very useful programs. His published works amount to 27. In addition to his own writings he has commissioned many artists like Momayez (7), Davallo(8) and Kalantari(9) to work for children.
In his preface he points out to a serious shortcoming in Iran’s academic college programs that is lack of courses on children’s literature and its history and principles.
If one day such course is offered the value of Yamini Sharif, Jabar Baghcheban(10), Ebrahim Baniahmad(11), Touran Mirhadi(12), Lili Ahi (Iman)(13), Kianoush(14), Parvin Dowlatabadi(15) and some other poets and writers such as Shamloo(16), Azad(17) and Farjam(18) whose works have been published by “Center for Development of Minds of Children and Youths” with fine pictures and other poets that Yamini has mentioned in his preface and I am not familiar with them will be better understood.
By reading the sweet and rhythmic poems of Yamini I journeyed back to my elementary school years and regretted that in our times school children were deprived of such poetry. We had “In the name of the lord of life and wisdom” and “Naser Khan and Mansoor Khan”(19) and “Anyone came and built anew”(20) and a book with a simple and childlike name of “Benefits of Manners”(21)!