List of Persian-language poets and authors Facts for Kids

Persian poets are amazing writers who create beautiful poems in the Persian language. This language is spoken in many countries, like Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. For hundreds of years, poets from these places and others, including Azerbaijan, India, and Pakistan, have written incredible verses. Their poems often share stories, feelings, and wisdom that are still loved today. This list introduces some of the most famous Persian poets throughout history.

Early Persian Poets (7th to 8th Centuries)
Poets of the 9th Century
Poets of the 10th Century
Poets of the 11th Century
Poets of the 12th Century
Poets of the 13th Century
Poets of the 14th Century
Poets of the 15th Century
Poets of the 16th Century
Poets of the 17th Century
Poets of the 18th Century
Poets of the 19th Century
Poets of the 20th Century
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Early Persian Poets (7th to 8th Centuries)

Abu'l-Abbas Marwazi, a poet from early times.

Poets of the 9th Century

Rudaki, often called the "father of Persian poetry." He was also a singer and musician.
Muhammad al-Bukhari, a famous Islamic scholar.
Mansur Al-Hallaj, a mystic and poet.
Shahid Balkhi, another important poet from this era.
Hanzala Badghisi, known for his poetry.
Muhammad ibn Wasif, a poet.
Abu Hafs Sughdi, a poet.

Poets of the 10th Century

This century saw many great poets, including some of the most famous names in Persian literature.

Ferdowsi, who wrote the epic poem Shahnameh (The Book of Kings). It's one of the world's longest epic poems.
Abusaeid Abolkheir, a well-known mystic and poet.
Rudaki, who continued to be influential.
Abu Mansur Daqiqi, a poet who started writing the Shahnameh before Ferdowsi.
Mansur Al-Hallaj, a mystic poet.
Unsuri, a court poet.
Rabi'a Balkhi, one of the earliest female Persian poets.
Asjadi, a poet.
Farrukhi Sistani, a famous poet known for his odes.
Kisai Marvazi, a poet.
Abu Shakur Balkhi, a poet.
Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, a Sufi saint and poet.

Poets of the 11th Century

This period brought more influential poets and scholars.

Omar Khayyám, a famous mathematician, astronomer, and poet. His poems, called Rubaiyat, are very popular.
Sanai, an important Sufi poet.
Nasir Khusraw, a traveler, writer, and poet.
Baba Tahir Oryan, a mystic poet.
Manuchihri, a court poet.
Fakhruddin As'ad Gurgani, known for his romantic epic Vis and Rāmin.
Asadi Tusi, a poet and linguist.
al-Biruni, a brilliant scholar who wrote about many subjects, including poetry.

Poets of the 12th Century

This century is known for some of the greatest masters of Persian poetry.

Farid al-Din Attar, a very important Sufi poet. His work, like The Conference of the Birds, is famous worldwide.
Nizami, one of the greatest romantic epic poets in Persian literature. His works include Khosrow and Shirin.
Khaqani Shirvani, a master of complex poetry.
Sanai Ghaznavi, a significant Sufi poet.
Mahsati, a female poet known for her quatrains.
Am'aq, a poet from Bukhara.
Anvari, a leading poet of his time.

Poets of the 13th Century

This century was a golden age for Persian poetry, with some of its most beloved figures.

Rumi, one of the most famous mystic poets in the world. His poems are about love, spirituality, and finding meaning.
Saadi, known for his deep wisdom and moral lessons. His works, Bustan (The Orchard) and Gulistan (The Rose Garden), are classics.
Fakhr al-Din Iraqi, a Sufi poet.
Shams Tabrizi, Rumi's spiritual teacher and a mystic.
Khwaju Kermani, a poet who influenced later writers like Hafez.
Mahmoud Shabestari, a Sufi mystic and poet.

Poets of the 14th Century

This period continued the rich tradition of Persian poetry.

Hafez, one of the most celebrated Persian poets. His poems, called ghazals, are known for their beauty and deep meanings.
Amir Khusrow, a famous poet and musician from India, who wrote in Persian.
Ubayd Zakani, known for his satirical and humorous poetry.
Jahan Malek Khatun, an important female poet.
Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, a scholar and poet.
Kamal Khujandi, a Sufi poet.
Imadaddin Nasimi, a poet who wrote in both Persian and Azerbaijani.

Poets of the 15th Century

New styles and voices emerged in this century.

Jami, a very important poet, scholar, and mystic. He wrote many different kinds of works.
Mir Ali Shir Nava'i, a poet who wrote in both Persian and Chagatai Turkic.
Fuzûlî, a major poet who wrote in Persian, Azerbaijani, and Ottoman Turkish.
Badriddin Hilali, a poet.

Poets of the 16th Century

This century saw poets who continued to innovate and express new ideas.

Sheikh Bahaii, a brilliant scientist, architect, philosopher, and poet.
Vahshi Bafghi, a poet known for his emotional and romantic poems.
Hatefi, a nephew of the famous poet Jami.
Taleb Amoli, a poet.
'Orfi Shirazi, a poet known for his unique style.
Mohtasham Kashani, famous for his religious poetry.

Poets of the 17th Century

Poetry continued to flourish, with new influences and styles.

Saib Tabrizi, a very influential poet known for his "Indian style" of poetry.
Abul Ma'āni Abdul Qader Bedil, a major poet from India who wrote in Persian.
Zeb-un-Nissa Makhfi, a princess and a talented poetess.
Guru Gobind Singh, a spiritual leader who composed the famous Zafarnamah in Persian.

Poets of the 18th Century

This period saw poets who kept the tradition alive and explored new themes.

Azar Bigdeli, a poet and compiler of biographies of poets.
Hazin Lahiji, a poet and scholar.
Hatef Esfehani, a poet known for his beautiful lyrical poems.
Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, a very famous poet who wrote in both Persian and Urdu.

Poets of the 19th Century

This century brought changes and new movements in Persian poetry.

Mohammad-Taghi Bahar, also known as Malek o-Sho'arā Bahār, a leading poet and scholar.
Ali Akbar Dehkhoda, a linguist and journalist who also wrote poetry.
Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib, who continued his influential work.
Iraj Mirza, a poet known for his simple and often humorous style.
Táhirih Qorrat al-'Ayn, a pioneering female poet and theologian.
Mirza Husayn 'Ali Nuri, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, who wrote many spiritual works.
Farrokhi Yazdi, a poet known for his political and social poems.
Qaani, a master of traditional Persian poetry.

Poets of the 20th Century

The 20th century was a time of great change and innovation in Persian poetry, with many modern poets emerging.

Ahmad Shamlou, a very important modern poet who changed Persian poetry.

Ahmad Shamlou
Bahram Bayzai, a famous playwright and filmmaker who also writes poetry.

Bahram Bayzai
Forough Farrokhzad, a groundbreaking female poet known for her bold and honest poems.
Nima Yushij, considered the father of modern Persian poetry, who introduced new forms.
Parvin E'tesami, a famous female poet known for her classical style and moral themes.
Sohrab Sepehri, a poet and painter known for his spiritual and nature-focused poems.

Sohrab Sepehri
Simin Behbahani, a celebrated female poet known for her powerful and socially aware poems.
Sadegh Hedayat, a famous writer and novelist.
Sadriddin Ayni, Tajikistan's national poet, important for his country's literature.
Iraj Mirza, a poet.

Iraj Mirza
Muhammad Iqbal, a very important poet and philosopher from Pakistan, who wrote in Persian and Urdu.
Varand, a poet.

Varand