Tag: rudaki

Source: Dīvān-i Rūdakī Samarqandī: bar asās-i nuskhah-i Saʻīd Nafīsī, Y. Brāgīnskī. Tihrān: Nigāh, 1997; p. 109. Not a robāʿi proper, but a remarkable poem in two lines of hazaj: ⏑ – – – | ⏑ – – – | ⏑ – – – | ⏑ – – –

زمانی برق پر خنده زمانی رعد پر ناله
چنان چون مادر از سوکِ عروسِ سیزده‌ساله
و گشته زین پرندِ سبز ساخِ بیدِ بُن‌ساله
چنان چون اشکِ مهجوران نشسته ژاله بر لاله

zamāni barq por khanda zamāni raʿd por nāla
chenān chun mādar az suk-e ʿarus-e sizdah-sāla
vo gashta z-in parand-e sabz shākh-e bid-e bonsāla
chenān chun ashk-e mahjurān neshasta zhāla bar lāla

Now the lightning’s full of smiles
Now the thunder cries and wails
As a mother mourns a girl
A bride of thirteen years
The ancient willow’s tassels
From this are silk and green
Still dew upon the tulips
Like distant lovers’ tears

Source: Dīvān-i Rūdakī Samarqandī: bar asās-i nuskhah-i Saʻīd Nafīsī, Y. Brāgīnskī. Tihrān: Nigāh, 1997; p. 117.

با آن که دلم از غمِ هجرت خونست
شادی به غمِ تو ام ز غم افزونست
اندیشه کنم هر شب و گویم یا رب
هجرانش چنینست وصالش چونست

bâ ân ke del-am az ġam-e hejrat xun-ast
šâdi be ġam-e to am ze ġam afzun-ast
andiše konam har šab o guyam yâ rabb
hejrân-š čonin-ast vesâl-aš čun-ast

– – o o – – o o – – oo –
– – o o – o – o – – oo –
– – o o – – o o – – oo –
– – o o – – o o – – oo –

Gloss:

although my heart is blood(y) from the pain of separation
my joy [reading “am” as “ma-ra”] in [my] pain for you exceeds the pain
i worry every night and i say o lord
(if) separation [from him/her] is like this, what is union [with him/her] like?

Translation:

My heart is bleeding
From a painful separation
At which I feel pleasure
Exceeding my pain

Each night, I brood and wonder
And say to God,
If I’m like this while we’re apart,
What then when we’re together?

In an effort to continue to work on my translation skills, I’ve lately begun the habit of translating a short piece of poetry every couple of days. I’ve been posting my drafts on Facebook, but I thought I would share some of my polished versions here. This is the first roba’i in Sa’id Nafisi’s edition of Rudaki’s divan.

در رهگذرِ باد چراغی که تراست
ترسم که بمیرد از فراغی که تراست
بوی جگرِ سوخته‌‌ عالم بگرفت
گر نشنیدی زهی دماغی که تراست

dar rahgozar-e bâd cherâgh-i ke to râ-st
tarsam ke bemirad az ferâgh-i ke to râ-st
bu-ye jegar-e sukhta ‘âlam be-gereft
gar nashenidi zehi damâgh-i ke to râ-st

I fear your fire’s burning out
For in the emptiness you left behind
Only howling wind remains
Can you smell it? The world
Reeks of burnt and blackened hearts
Can you sense anything at all?