The Conference of the Birds

Composed in the twelfth century in northeastern Iran, The Conference of the Birds is a marvellous, allegorical rendering of the Islamic philosophical tradition of Sufism, whose followers seek a spiritual path to mystical union with the divine. The epic poem describes a gathering of the birds of the world who meet to begin the search for their ideal king, the Simorgh bird. On hearing that they must undertake an arduous journey to the summit of Mount Qaf, the birds express reservations to their leader, the hoopoe. With eloquence and insight, the hoopoe calms their fears, using a series of riddling parables to provide guidance in the search for spiritual truth. By turns witty and profound, The Conference of the Birds transforms profound belief into magnificent poetry.