I’ve always loved his sprung verse, its sounds and rhythms simultaneously reminds me of Old Anglo-Saxon poetry, Yoruba poetry, and rap. As incredible as it may seem, the sad English monk may have foreshadowed some of hip-hop and spoken word’s poetic styles. But don’t take my word for it, listen to Eminem of Pharoahe Monch after…
From ‘Imrani, the Jewish Persian poet
My body exhausted, my soul injured, and my heart wounded I am estranged from the Beloved and distant from myself I am worn out as the wretched I am distraught and mournful as the beggars Having lost the essence of youth, My soul has grown old for want of strength Yet! Despite all these pains…
Bulanga
Bulanga Translated Lyrics: Give me a throne and I will be a king Give a sword and I will be a soldier Give me wings and I will be a bird Put me under earth and I will be strong next to you The dead are not dead Maybe invisible, untouchable Come here spirits of…
Rumi on Karbala
كل يوم عاشوراء وكل ارض كربلاء Translation: Where are you, o martyrs of God? You calamity seekers of the desert of Karbala Where are you, o you the light-winged lovers Lighter than the birds of heaven, o celestial soveirgns Who have opened the gates of the heavenly spheres You who have released yourself from time and…
Shaykh Bahaii Amuli
A translation of the lyrics (by M. Dilmaghani): — So long, in plead of unison with thee my eyelids are drowned in the deluge of tear. So long, in plead of unison with thee, Thou, the sole beloved! The arrow of thy sorrow pierced all lovers’ heart… For how long, how long shall…
Flamenco is Love and Pain
“Flamenco is love and pain,” he said. “Heartbreak. In art there has to be pain, that is clear – it is like life, whether you want it or not, it is there.” -Vicente Amigo in an interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCoyXkD_n3I Hafez says… مرا می*بینی و هر دم زیادت می*کنی دردم Marâ mibini o hardam, ziyâdat mikoni dardam…
Like water…
“Consider the creatures as pure and limpid water, within which shine the Attributes of the Almighty. Their knowledge, their justice, their kindness all are stars of heaven reflected in flowing water. Kings are a locus of manifestation for God’s Kingliness, the learned a locus for His Knowledge. Generations have passed, and this is a new…
Hafez and Flamenco
Translation: Everyone who became an intimate of the heart, remained in my love’s sanctuary and the one who didn’t understand this remained in denail Don’t fault my heart if it shed its veil. Thank God it didn’t stay veiled in its imagination The Sufis redeemed all the clothes they pawned for wine Only…
More Aziz Mian…
There’s no one quite like ‘Aziz Some lines: Main sharaabi, yaaron mujhe muaaaf karo Main nashe mein hoon, yaaron mujhe muaaaf karo Sheeshe mein mai, mai mein nasha, main nashe mein hoon Ye apni masti hai, jisne machayi hai halchal Nasha sharaab mein hota to nachti botal I’m a drunkard; forgive me, my friends….