Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 19، number In Volume 2، May 2026 ، issue Number 120

The analysis of the Theme of Journey and Migration in the poetry of Post- islamic Revolutionary Iranian Poets

Majid Ghasemi Fasarani , Majid Pouyan (Author in Charge), Mohammad Reza Najjarian

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The theme of travel and migration in Iranian literature after the Islamic Revolution has undergone profound semantic and symbolic transformations and has become a reflection of poets’ psychological states as well as the social atmosphere of society. In poets’ works, these concepts appear in two major forms: a group of domestic poets regard travel as a symbol of inner transformation, spiritual journey, and the quest for truth, whereas migrant poets associate migration with the experience of exile and identity crisis. The aim of the present study is to analyze the themes of travel and migration in the poetry of selected domestic poets (Hamid Sabzevari, Mehrdad Avesta, Ali Moallem Damghani, and Ali Mousavi Garmaroudi) and to compare them with those of four selected migrant poets (Abbas Saffari, Yadollah Royayi, Nader Naderpour, and Zhāleh Esfahani), in order to clarify their commonalities and differences.

METHODOLOGY: This research adopts a descriptive–analytical approach and is based on library research. In this process, themes related to travel and migration are first extracted from the poets’ works and then examined through a comparative approach to identify points of similarity and difference.

FINDINGS: The analysis of the poems by the studied poets shows that the concepts of *“journey”* and *“migration”* in the works of poets living inside the country are often accompanied by a positive and elevating perspective. In these poems, the journey is viewed as a symbol of inner movement, self-discovery, spiritual wayfaring, and religious responsibility, frequently associated with notions such as the pursuit of truth, defense of the homeland, and martyrdom.

In contrast, in the poetry of migrant poets, migration carries a tone of anxiety, sorrow, and protest. For them, separation from the homeland becomes an experience intertwined with feelings of alienation, identity crisis, and estrangement — so much so that in these poems, the journey no longer represents a path to salvation but rather reflects the suffering of exile and the fragmentation of identity.

CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that in the poetry of domestic poets, the themes of travel and migration are mostly affirmative and carry positive connotations, focusing on spiritual transformation, self-knowledge, and religious mission. These poets employ travel and migration as means of attaining truth, self-discovery, defending the homeland, and martyrdom, reflecting an effort to reach higher values.In contrast, migrant poets portray migration in connection with feelings of exile, identity crisis, and alienation. Through the experience of separation from their homeland, they present travel and migration as painful and sometimes protest-oriented experiences, symbolizing fragmented identity and confusion in the face of new realities.

Keyword
Travel , Migration , Post–Islamic Revolution Iranian Poetry , Migration Literature , Nostalgia