[.ca] Stations of Desire: Love Elegies from Ibn 'Arabi and New ... (ISBN 9659012519)

good translator:
1.Cannot say that the language he uses when talking about the prophets is respectful. 2.His own poems are rubbish. 3.He is a good translator.

Making a great poetry accessible to modern readers:
People might have different views of Sells' own poetry, but no one can disagree that he is a great translator. I have read many translations of Arabic poetry, and I must say that Sells' translations are the best. They perfectly convey the rhythm, the poignancy, the beauty of the original language. Ibn Arabi's poems are great in Arabic, but it's a challenge to render them into modern English and still retain their status of great poetry. Sells has done a wonderful job. I think he deserves a national award for his excellent translations that bring a beautiful literature to the modern reader.

Gorgeous:
This is a collection of incredibly beautiful Sufi poetry, plus some poetry of Professor Sells own creation in the style of the Sufis. He also gives extensive explanations in the introduction of Arabic poetry traditions and explains what the poets were trying to do, to accomplish. Sells himself is a lyrical, polished writer. If you're at all a lover of poetry, do get this volume with poems from an ancient culture where poetry was the very highest form of art.