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,…
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,…
Rumi-Looking for a true human
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs1StI9E71M Translation: Show your face, for the orchard and rose garden is what I long for Open your lips, for heaps of sugar are what I long for O Sun of beauty, come out of the cloud for a moment For that shining, radiant face is what I long for From your air, I…
Night
“The Night” by Henry Vaughan … There is in God, some say, A deep but dazzling darkness, as men here Say it is late and dusky, because they See not all clear. O for that night! where I in Him Might live invisible and dim!…
When I die—Rumi and al-Ghazali
Two of the most beautiful death-bed poems from two great Sufis. I pray to live in such a way that someone will recite these at my burial. Rumi Translation: When my bier moveth on the day of death Think not my heart is in this world. Do not weep for me and cry “woe, woe!”…