Abu Sa’īd Abu’l Khayr (10th-11th C) Translation: You and I, my love, are a pair of compasses though divided in twain, in body we are one We circle on a point, anon like compasses at the end we bring our heads together as one. Translation: Reza Ourdoubadian. The Poems of Abu Sa’id Abu’l…
Sarmad The universe is a kaleidoscope: now hopelessness, now hope now spring, now fall. Forget its ups and downs: do not vex yourself: The remedy for pain is the pain. Translation by Peter Lamborn Wilson and Nasrollah Pourjavady Translation: Punishment replaces punishment and one pain removes another a nail takes out…
Rumi: Translation: When the tent-pavilion was pitched for Solomon, the birds came before him to pay their respects. They found him speaking their language and familiar with them; one by one, they sped with eager souls into his presence. All the birds, having ceased from twittering, became more articulate with Solomon than your own brother: Having…
بگرفت کار حسنت چون عشق من کمالی Translation: Your beauty, like my love, grew into perfection Be happy, for these two will not decline Neither imagination nor intellect can picture a reality more beautiful than this image I would have fulfilled my life’s fortune if ever union with you was my…
Hafez: My tears are after you, do not despise them. For how many deep seas form from shallow springs! Original: دموعي بعدكم لاتحقروها فكم بحر عميق من سواقي Hafez: سلام الله ما کر اللیالی Translation: As long as the nights follow one another And the two-stringed lutes answer…
One of my favorite songs from a long time ago… Translation (rougher than usual): I am here by fate, my friend, by fate I am here, my cousin… Where can I find you, poor you? All my friends have betrayed me God and my parents are all that I have By fate…
Translation (sung portion in bold): On the day of parting they did not saddle the full-grown reddish-white camels until they had mounted the peacocks upon them, Peacocks with murderous glances and sovereign power : thou wouldst fancy that each of them was a Bilqis on her throne of pearls. When she walks on the glass pavement l…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5THbECqsbAk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcwBNFlW51g Translation: Show your face, for the orchard and rosegarden are my desire; open your lips, for abundant sugar is my desire. Sun of beauty, come forth one moment out of the cloud, for that glittering, glowing countenance is my desire. Out of your air I heard the…
