Personal Life and Relationships
Shamloo’s personal life was marked by multiple marriages. He first married Ashraf al-Muluk Islamieh in 1947, and they had four children: Siavash, Saman, Sirous, and Saqi. However, this marriage ended in divorce. He then married Tusi Haeri in 1956, but this union also lasted only a few years. It was in 1964 that Shamloo found lasting companionship with Aida Sarkissian, whom he described as his muse and greatest source of inspiration.
Aida played an integral role in Shamloo’s personal and creative life. Their relationship reinvigorated his artistic expression during a period when he was struggling with creative stagnation. Inspired by their love, Shamloo composed some of his most memorable poems, collected in works such as Aida: Tree, Dagger, and Memory! and Aida in the Mirror. He openly credited Aida as the driving force behind his poetry, stating that everything he wrote was for and because of her. The couple lived together harmoniously until Shamloo’s passing, with Aida remaining a steadfast supporter of his literary legacy.
Literary Contributions and Later Life
Beyond poetry, Shamloo was a prolific translator, journalist, and editor. In 1966, he undertook the monumental task of compiling and researching The Alley Book, an extensive collection of Persian folklore and proverbs. He also engaged in children’s literature, producing the program “Grandma’s Stories” for National Iranian Television.