Miushfik

(also, Mushfik; pen name of Mikail Kadyr ogly Ismailzade). Born August 1908 in Baku; died Mar. 12, 1939. Soviet Azerbaijani poet.

Miushfik was the son of a teacher. In 1931 he graduated from a pedagogical institute in Baku and became a teacher of Azerbaijani language and literature. Miushfik’s first works were published in 1926. Winds, his first collection of lyric poetry, was published in 1930, followed by the collections The Voices of the Day (1932), Among the Derricks (1932), Verse (1934), and Shengiul’, Shiungiul’, and Mengiul’ (1934).

The romantic interpretation of revolution and the heroic spirit of the struggle for socialism are the principal themes of Miushfik’s poetry, which includes “The Oath,” “Revolution,” and “The 28th of April.” Miushfik celebrated the renewal of the Azerbaijan countryside (”Ashfan,” 1933; “Shoila,” 1934), the rise of new cities (”The Hopes for Mingechaur,” “Song About the Terter Hydroelectric Station”), and friendship among peoples (“Song About Eternity,” “Sevan”).

Miushfik’s lyric poetry is highly emotional and musical. Miushfik was the first Azerbaijani poet to use classical forms (aruz versification, symbolism) to express contemporary themes. Miushfik’s poetry greatly influenced the development of Soviet Azerbaijani lyric poetry. Miushfik translated works by A. S. Pushkin, M. Iu. Lermontov, S. Ia. Marshak, and Omar Khayyam into Azerbaijani.