TEHRAN-The veteran Iranian poet Simindokht Vahidi received the first-degree medal of arts in the presence of a number of cultural officials at her home on January 30.

Deputy of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance Yaser Ahmadvand presented the 90-year-old poet the medal for her influential work since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, IRNA reported.

Born in 1933 in Jahrom, Fars Province, Vahidi wrote her first book “Bereaved Tulips” at the age of 25. She continued her cooperation after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 with Iran’s radio and the Art Bureau.

The love of the founder of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khomeini and religious commitments were other reasons for the poets to get together in the Art Bureau in the early days of the revolution and Vahidi was always present at those meetings.

Vahidi’s poetry enjoys such delicate beauty that is hardly seen in works by male poets. She was a great help in the early days of the revolution during which there was an immense need for cultural programs on radio and TV.

She was also the chief editor of the cultural monthly “Kowsar”. The poet used to recite poetry for the soldiers during the war while she was visiting the war-stricken cities or the frontlines.

Vahidi has been honored with the Cultural Lady of the Year Award at the third edition of the Tahereh Saffarzadeh Literary Award. She received the award for her research, cultural and academic activities, and her collections of poetry and books on the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war in 2015.

SS/SAB