Indigenization in the Poetry of Nima Yooshij

Abstract

This article examines the role of localism in the poetry of Nima Yushij and argues that his contribution to modern Persian poetry is rooted not only in formal innovation but also in the linguistic, ecological, and cultural foundations of his native Mazandaran. Through an analysis of linguistic features, ecological imagery, narrative structures, and symbolic patterns, the study demonstrates how Tabari vocabulary, northern landscape elements such as forests, mist, rain, sea, and local fauna, along with motifs derived from regional oral culture, shape the semantic and aesthetic architecture of his poetry. The findings show that nature in Nima’s verse functions not as decorative scenery but as an active “character,” expressing emotions such as anxiety, hope, anticipation, and renewal. Furthermore, the study reveals that symbols such as “night,” “the Amen Bird,” “Darvag,” and “mist” emerge from lived ecological experience rather than classical poetic conventions. Narrative and sociocultural analysis also illustrates how rural life, agricultural labor, seasonal rhythms, and local customs form an integral part of his poetic world. The overall conclusion underscores that Nima Yushij is not only the father of modern Persian poetry but also the founding figure of modern literary localism in Iran, redefining Persian poetry through a renewed bond with cultural and ecological identity.