The 20th of Mehr (October 12) marks the commemoration day of Hafez Shirazi, the renowned Iranian master of the ghazal and a towering figure in Persian poetry and literature. Hafez serves as a bridge between Iranian and Islamic cultures; his poetry—characterized by mysticism, romance, wisdom, inventive imagery, and evocative power—maintains a vibrant presence in the personal and social lives of Iranians. His lofty, universal ideas offer a perfect reflection of Iran's ancient, profound, flourishing, enduring, rich, and influential culture and civilization.