Nostalgia di un tempo passato, amarezza del tempo presente: patria e amor patrio nella poesia persiana di inizio Novecento

The Persian poetry production of the early twentieth century represents a turning point in which there is interaction between aulic and folk poetry. It is the first step of the transformations that led to the affirmation of phenomena usually considered 'revolutionary' and of abrupt breaking with the past classical poetic traditions. Although the most significant changes occurred in terms of content, it should be noted, however, that poets have made a conscious choice in the use of 'popular' poetic forms (such as tasnif and sorud). These poetical forms gave them the opportunity to treat, with more immediacy and with greater influence over the masses, the themes of Iranian modernity. The first signs of subsequent discussions and disputes on the 'old' and 'new', leading to most revolutionary changes on the level of form and modes of expression, are to be found in the poetic production of the early twentieth century and especially in the patriotic and political poetry of this period with its particular propensity to the glorious past on one side and to the charm of modernity on the other.