[03/04/25] Martin, Charles: The Khayyam Suite

Johns Hopkins University Press, paperback

Publication Date: March 4, 2025

Publisher Marketing: A rich collection of poems inspired by the Persian lyric tradition. In The Khayyam Suite, acclaimed poet Charles Martin explores both the profound and the personal in verse that celebrates the spectrum of human experience. At the heart of this collection is a study of the Rubaiyat, the renowned poem cycle attributed to the Persian poet Omar Khayyam. Martin pays homage to Khayyam's classical Persian poetic form—the ghazal—by infusing it with contemporary sensibilities, creating a rich tapestry of contemplation and artistry. By seamlessly blending Eastern and Western poetic traditions, Martin offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on timeless questions that have captivated philosophers and poets throughout the ages. Each long poem consists of forty quatrains mirroring those of Khayyam's. Martin's verses reflect on modern existential dilemmas, environmental crises, and the intricacies of personal relationships. From the haunting feeling of "On the Coming Extinctions" to the stark socio-economic commentary in "On Capital," each poem invites the reader into a contemplative dialogue with the self. Martin's poems are both a mirror and a window to the soul, reflecting personal histories and illuminating the universal human condition. This collection, imbued with the lyrical charm and intellectual depth of Martin's writing, is a profound commentary on love, loss, and the fleeting nature of life.