Hiran and the Sleepless Longing

Hiran and the Sleepless Longing; the shortest oral poems of Iran (Bashkardi Dihevi). This book is compiled and translated by Ahmad Dadkhadapour, a researcher and storyteller. Diho (Diken_Liku_Zahirook_Longing_Motak) is an oral and short poem, usually consisting of one meaningful couplet with a concise form of about four to six words. Most Diho poems have ten syllables and are rhymed and metered. Since these poems are oral, their rhyme sometimes relies on auditory effects rather than strict adherence to metric and rhyme rules. Diho poets occasionally disrupt the rhythmic form to complete their expression. In southern Kerman, the Balochistan region, and eastern Hormozgan, these poems are recognized under different names but with nearly identical form and content. In the Bashkardi area, they are specifically called Diho. Some mistakenly associate another song and maqam named “Kordi” in Bashkardi with Diho, but their structure and content are distinct. Kordi is a vocal form performed by specialized singers, with lyrics selected from Hafez’s divan, Faiz Dashtestani’s songs, and other famous poetry, and Kordi lyrics are purely romantic. Diho is neither a collective poem nor a group song; it is rarely performed in gatherings. As evident from the content, these poems arise from the unique suffering and longing of their creators. Each Diho is very short with less social content, making it unsuitable for instrumental performance.