Some famous and beautiful fragments (single verses) of Arabic Love poetry, often cited by Sufis. Translation: If not for You, we would not know Love, If not for Love, we would not know You. Original: لو لاكم ما عرفنا الهوى ولو لا الهوى ما عرفناكم Translation:…
Keats and the Sufis
these poems by John Keats pair nicely with the following poems by Ibn al-Farid and Hafez John Keats “Fill for me a brimming bowl” What wondrous beauty! From this moment I efface from my mind all women. Terrence, Eunuch, II.3.296 Fill for me a brimming bowl And in it let me drown my soul: But put therein…
Pass round love’s remembrance
One of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets, Ibn al-Fāriḍ: Translation: Pass round the remembrance the one I love, even in reproach for tales about the beloved are my wine Let my hearing witness the one I love, though she be far through specters…
Hafez and Surah Qadr
There’s a close relationship between Hafez’s poetry and the Qur’an, and it’s seldom as explicit as in the poem below: Translation: This is the night of union and the tale of separation is at an end Therein is peace until the break of dawn. O heart, be steadfast in love For on this path, no work is without…
Hafez taught me: Three Great Ghazals
These three wonderful ghazals are right next to one another in Hafez’s Divan: Ghazal 344: Translation: With your black eyelashes, you poked thousands of holes in my faith Come, let me pick thousands of pains from your lovesick eyes. O companion of the heart who has forgotten your friends Let there be no…
Ghazal #1 of Hafez’s Divan
This first Ghazal of Hafiz’s Divan is as mysterious as it is beautiful and wise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo5YGfMeElg Translation: O Saqi, come pass the cup ’round and fill it up for love seemed easy at first, but then came difficulties Longing for the sweet scent the morning wind unlocks from her locks …
Hafez sung beautifully
This is one of the most beautiful recordings of Hafez’s ghazals that I’ve ever heard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHMjOCOJ1oA Translation: As long as there is a name and sign on the tavern My head will be dust on the road of the Magian Pīr The ring of the Magian Pīr has been in my ear since…
The Lovers’ Anthem
This incredibly beautiful, and incredibly rich, ghazal of Hafez is my current favorite: Translation: When you hear the speech of the people of the heart, do not say that it is mistake the mistake is, my dear, not understanding this speech. My head bows neither to this world nor the next Praise God for…
Nightingale: Keats and Hafez
Hafez sang: بلبلى خون جگر خورد و گلى حاصل كرد باد غيرت به صادش خار پريشان دل كرد طوطيى را به خيال شكرى دل خوش بود ناگهش سيل فنا نقش امل باطل كرد Gertrude Bell’s translation: The nightingale with drops of his heart’s blood Had nourished the red rose, then came a wind, And catching…
I carry your heart
This lovely poem by e.e. cummings sounds like it could have been written by Rumi: [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in] by e.e. cummings i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your…