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…
Bright Night, Dark Day
Shabistari The Rose Garden of Mystery (verses 122-130) Reason’s light applied to the Essence of Lights is like the eye of the head looking at the brilliance of the Sun when the object seen is very close to the eye The eye is darkened so that it cannot see it This blackness, if you know it, is…
Rumi and Bossa Nova
Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes Translation: Me without you, there’s no reason Because without you, I can’t even cry I’m flame without light, garden without moonlight Moonlight without love, love that’s not given And without you I’m only lovelorn A ship without sea, a field without flower Sadness that goes, sadness that comes Without you,…
Who am I?
Bulleh Shah Translation: Bulleh, what do I know about who I am? I am not a believer in the mosques, nor do I follow the rites of unbelief. I am not among the pure or polluted. I am neither Moses nor Pharoah. I am not in the Vedas or in the scriptures; I…
Remove yourself, Hafez!
Hafez Translation: Come! For last night, the tavern’s unseen voice told me to be pleased with the divine decree and not to flee from destiny Between Lover and Beloved there is no barrier You yourself are your own veil, Hafez. Remove yourself! Original: بیا که هاتف میخانه دوش با من گفت…
Persian Visual Poems
Hafez’s poetry and Persian Miniatures come to life: Hafez: Translation: Love’s minstel has wonderful harmony and melody Every song 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 gold…
Those who believe are more intense in love…
Quran 2:165 وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ “Translation”: Among the people are some who take peers apart from God, loving them as if loving God….
Rumi-I am not wandering aimlessly
Translation: by Farah Aziz No I am not roaming aimlessly through the alleys and bazaar I am a lover searching for his beloved God have mercy on me I am walking around troubled I have done wrong and sinned and am walking around wounded I have drunk the wine of desire and am walking around lovelorn Though…