One of my favorite ghazals of Rumi, its inherent musicality embodies the Ṭarab the poet declares himself to be in the opening line. https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1krbWlfxx-K9Icigm9-YSQCXoMoiP8LsQ Original/Translation: من طربم طرب منم زهره زند نوای منI am delight, delight is me; Venus sings my melody. عشق میان عاشقان شیوه کند برای منLove between lovers makes a way for…
“Forever do the Spirits yearn for you” / “Forever in your remembrance do my moments pass”: al-Suhrawardi and al-Shābb al-Ẓarīf
Although better known as the founder of the Illuminationist Philosophical tradition, Shihāb al-dīn al-Suhrawardī was also a gifted Arabic poet, and this poem, in particular has been beloved by Sufis and lovers throughout the ages. al-Shābb al-Ẓarīf’s poem of the same meter seems to be modeled on it in part. But al-Shābb al-Ẓarīf’s poem stands…
Baha al-Dīn Zuhayr: “I have, in passion, a secret”
One of the most famous and celebrated poets and prose stylists (and calligraphers) of the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods, Bahā’ al-dīn Zuhayr (d. 656/1258) was known for his impossibly easy (sahl mumtani’) and elegant style that combined directness, sincerity, and brevity with wit and profound feelings-especially in love poetry, poetry about friendship, and praise poetry….
al-Ḥarrāq, “The best of my states is my trust in your grace”
A lovely madīḥ nabawī poem by the “little Ibn al-Fāriḍ,” the Shādhilī-Darqawī shaykh and poet, Muḥammad al-Ḥarrāq (1186/1772-1261/1845). The closing lines are some of my favorite verses of metaphysical madīḥ, beautifully recited here: Translation: The best of my states is in my reliance on your grace,And begging at your door is my placeBy God, how…
al-Ḥarrāq, “Are you seeking Layla?”
Translation: Are You Seeking Layla? Are you seeking Layla while she is manifest in you? And you suppose she is someone else, but she’s not other than you. In the sect of love, this dullness is apparent, So be sharp, for [seeing her as] other is the source of estrangement. Do you not see that…
Moses and the Shepherd
One my favorite stories from the Masnavi, its dialectic is brilliant and dizzying… Translation: How Moses, on whom be peace, took offence at the prayer of the shepherd. 1720. Moses saw a shepherd on the way, who was saying, “O God who choosest (whom Thou wilt), Where art Thou, that I may become Thy servant and…
Hamza el-Din—Desse Barama
One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite artists: Translation: The world shines about me, luminous as the moon, smiling like a rose, and a sweet benediction flows through everything existing. How beautiful life is. I marvel at people who are not in love with life. You, my girl, are beautiful, and your…
Yoruba poetry in praise of Olodumare
The remarkable Mayowa Adeyemo performs a powerful poem in praise of Olodumare, the Supreme Deity. Original: Odíderé ayékòótá máa wolè máràba Odéderé ayébòútó máa wolè máràba oò ri’ báyé nwá doríto dò tó dobúépo ọmọ ò gbọ́ tí baba mo, baba ò gbó dimọ má, aya ò gbọ́ lọkọ mo gbogbo rè wá polúkúrámusu…
The River of Love
One of the most popular and beautiful verses of the wonderful Amir Khusrau… Khusrau darya prem ka, ulti wa ki dhaar, Jo utra so doob gaya, jo dooba so paar. Oh Khusrau, the river of love Runs in strange ways. One who enters it drowns, And one who drowns, gets across. it is popularly performed alongside…
Hafez and Basho
Basho A strange flower for birds and butterfliesthe autumn sky Glorious the moon . . . therefore our thanks dark clouds Come to rest our necks The first day of the year: thoughts come – and there is loneliness; the autumn dusk is here. None is travelling Here along this way but I,…