In the Alley of the Friend is the translation of an original book in Persian, Dar Kuy-e Dust, by one of the most original Persian men of letters in the twentieth century about the poetry of perhaps the most original Persian
poet of all time, Hafez, who is often referred to as Lesan ol-Gheyb or the “Tongue of the Invisible.” Like the majority of Persian speakers around the world, especially in Iran, literate and illiterate alike, I grew up with the poetry of Hafez, but I claim no expertise in Hafez studies. With this excuse and also since this book is about Hafez, I will refrain from expressing any thoughts about that great poet, leave that task to the author, and instead say a few words about Shahrokh Meskoob.