a little gem from Shushtari… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf9v3gggmvA Translation: A little shaykh from the land of Meknes in the middle of the markets singing: What do I care about people What do they care about me? What do I care, my friend about the whole creation? Do good, be saved and follow the people of realities…
Love beyond words…
Ibn al-Fāriḍ In the art of describing his beauty, time itself expires and yet still there remains in him, what has not been described وعـلى تَـفَنّنِ واصِـفيهِ بِحُسْنِهِ يَـفنى الـزّمانُ وفيه ما لم يُوصف Anon. A robe woven from the cloth of 29 letters would still fall short of…
Hafez says, “Shatter”
Translation: Give us love’s flirtatious look and shatter sorcery’s bazaar With but a seductive glance, shatter wealthy Samer’s law Give both the head and turban of the whole world to the wind That is, let your hair down, let the heart-breaking begin Tell the lock of hair to give up its bold arrogance “Shatter…
You seek Layla
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAYyniRPNC8 Translation: You seek Layla, but she reveals herself within you You think she’s other, but she’s not other than you And that’s a madness that is apparent to the cult of lovers So be careful, for otherness is the essence of being cut off Don’t you see how her beauty envelops you? She disappears only when…
The poetry of Emir ‘abd al-Qadir
Although primarily known for his political and military exploits, Emir ‘abd al-Qadir was a spiritual master and poet of the highest caliber, as the following poems demonstrate… I am God, I am the creature I am the Lord, I am the servant I am the Throne, I am the carpet I am water, I am…
The magic of music
What is music and why there is so much of the enchantment of love in it? Music is the secret of Love and Love is the secret of God Original: سرود چيست كه چندين فسون عشق داراوست سرود محرم عشق است و عشق محرم اوست Love plays its lute behind the…
Un sentiment français
Ne me quitte pas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za_6A0XnMyw Original: Ne me quitte pas Il faut oublier Tout peut s’oublier Qui s’enfuit déjà Oublier le temps Des malentendus Et le temps perdu A savoir comment Oublier ces heures Qui tuaient parfois A coups de pourquoi Le coeur du bonheur Ne me quitte pas Ne me…
The certitude of my brightest love
Hafez: I have never seen a more beautiful reminder than the words of love that linger in this turning dome از صدای سخن عشق نديدم خوشتر يادگاری که در اين گنبد دوار بماند Cristina Branco: The certitude of my brightest love The certitude of my brightest…
Ibn ‘Arabi, Hallaj, and Carminho
When my Beloved appears, with what eye do I see Him? With His eye not with mine; for no one sees Him except Himself. -Ibn ‘Arabi Original: إذا تجلى حبيبي بأي عين تراه بعينه لا بعيني فما يراه سواه Hallaj: I saw my Lord with the eye of my Heart, I…
“In nearness, farness vanished is…”
I would, so overflowing is my love for Him Remember him perpetually, yet my remembrance— How wondrous— is vanished into ecstasy And still yet more wondrous, even ecstasy, With memory’s self, in nearness, farness vanished is -Abu’l Husayn an-Nuri أريد دوام الذكر من فرط حبّه فيا عجبا من…