Translation: If the soul of a lover spoke, fire would rain down on this world smashing this baseless world like atoms The Sky will burst, time and space torn to shreds A passion fills the world, Joy triumphs over death. The Sun falls short, as the inner light glows …
Amazing Ghazal of Rumi
Another great translation from Prof. Nicholas Boylston… Translation: At every breath the song of love Arrives to us from left and right We’re setting out to the celestial sphere Who has the guts to come with us? The celestial sphere was once our home We were the friends of angels there We go again to…
Rumi—It’s a lie!
Wonderful ghazal, wonderfully translated by Prof Nicholas Boylston: Translation: They say, “The king of love has no loyalty.” It’s a lie. They say, “The morning does not lead to eve.” It’s a lie. They say, “Why do you kill yourselves for the sake of love? After the annihilation of the body nothing remains.” It’s a…
Sana’i and Hafez Bilingual Poems (Molamma’āt)
One of Hafez’s Molamma’āt (mixed Persian and Arabic) ghazals illustrates not only the unique transformation of Arabic prosody in Persian poetry, but also Hafez’s unique gift for copying, transforming, and improving the verses from previous ghazals (in this case a ghazal by the seminal master of the ghazal, Sanā’ī): Sana’ī Translation: Last night a…
‘Eid al-Adha
Rumi Translation: When love sacrifices me, then that day will be my ‘Eid Were it not my ‘Eid, I’d not be that real man, but a whore Original: عشق چو قربان کندم عید من آن روز بود ور نبود عید من آن مرد نیم بلک غرم al-Harraq Translation: If you appear,…
Loving you
Minnie Ripperton Lyrics: Lovin’ you is easy, ’cause you’re beautiful Makin’ love with you is all I wanna do Lovin’ you is more than just a dream come true And everything that I do is out of lovin’ you La-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la, la-la, la-la-la Dodin-dodin-do-do, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah No one else can make me feel the colors…
The qibla of love
Qu’ran 2:144 We have seen the turning of thy face to heaven. And now verily We shall turn you toward a qibla [direction of prayer] which is dear to thee. So turn thy face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship, and ye, wheresoever ye may be, turn your faces toward it. Lo! Those who have…
O Lovers, O Lovers
Several of Rumi’s most musical ghazals begin with this refrain Translation: O Lovers, O lovers, the time has come to leave this world In my soul’s ears resound the traveling drums from Heaven Behold, the driver has risen and made ready the files of camels, And begged us to acquit him of blame: why,…
Death Poems
Mīr Dard Translation: My friends, we have seen enough of this play We are going home, you can stay Original: دوستو، دیکها تماشا یاں کا بس تُم رہو خوش ہم تو اپنے گھر چلے (From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khwaja_Mir_Dard) Kozan Ichikyo Translation: Empty-handed I entered this world Barefoot I leave it My coming and my going…
The Troubadour of Love
Translation: The troubadour of love has such a wonderful voice and song Every melody in his repertoire has a path to a place May the world never be empty of the cry of lovers Because it has a sweet and joyful voice Although our dreg-draining Pir has neither…