Category: Translation

Here’s another poem I’ve been working on, the Varqa & Golshah, written by ʿAyyuqi in probably the 1030s. I don’t really have the chops to try anything fancy—no time for rhyme—so the only requirement I set myself is to keep within some kind of iambic beat; iambs are one of the easiest rhythms to work with in English, so I felt that it was something I could attempt. Here is the [spoiler alert!] death scene of Golshah. If you have any comments about how this kind of translation works for you, or suggestions of other approaches I might try, leave a comment or send me an email!

17. The King of Syria Goes With Golshah to the Head of Varqa’s Tomb

1. He brought the lover beside her lover—two loves united is fine and good—
2. And all the city turned towards the ardent lover’s grave, the one who searched for love.
3. Golshah proceeded, mourning, wailing, weeping, ripping her hair,
4. And when she arrived at Varqa’s grave, a wish to die came over her.
5. She tore her clothes and beat her hands against her breast; from the tall camel-litter, she fell upon the dust,
6. She rolled in the dirt like those who’ve lost their wits, or helpless slaves in a tyrannous hand,
7. That silver cypress broke her ruby belt, lamenting, tore the circlet off her head,
8. Her burning heart melted Berber rings, her grief sewed shut the eyes of joy;
9. At times she sprinkled dew upon the tulips with her eyes; at times she spread ambergris on the earth with her locks.
10. The love-lorn one who only loved was now a howling reed,* a scoured face.
11. She went and tightly held the grave, placing her tulip cheeks against its side,
12. And cleansed the dark earth with so many tears, her rosy face turned muddy from the dust and the water.
13. She said: “O worthy one! What plan is this that you’ve prepared?
14. What of our pledge with you this way, when you will never be my guest again?
15. You used to say: ‘When I come back, I will, from time to time, renew my thoughts of you.’
16. What’s with you now? What made you quit the road halfway and make the dust your new abode?
17. If fortune’s tied your fortunes up in knots, well, here’s your love—she’s come to see you!”
18. “My dear beloved; my handsome, faithful lord,” she cried,
19. “Until I join you in the earth, I will not turn—I will not keep my heartache secret!”
20. She said these words, and then and there she mingled musk into the withered earth.
21. She spoke: “How much must I endure of this injustice? When will fate release my heart?
22. What good is youth to me? Now why should I live?
23. By what fell omen was I born from my mother, that I should be tormented as long as I live?*
24. My soul’s been hounded by a bitter fate; not a day passed that it wasn’t bound in heavy fetters.
25. The artless, faithless heavens stole from me a man who made my love and life forever new.
26. From birth, the spheres raised us together and joined our hearts in love,
27. And when we grew attached to each other, and set our hearts on union,
28. We never saw that mutual joy; the one who holds my heart has gone below the clay.
29. Without you now, my soul, my dear beloved, the stirring world’s become my prison.
30. I hope his recompense from God on Judgment Day will be a painful torment for his crime;*
31. He drove the two of us apart and made our two hearts twist in pain.
32. Now, striving for your pledge with me, you suddenly gave up your sinless soul and went below the earth.
33. My loyalty’s no less—I’ll surrender my life and lay my face upon your face.”
34. And there the kind and rose-faced beauty stayed: screaming, wailing, and lamenting,
35. Driving the blood out of her heart. The world, the age, mourned over her,
36. And all who came upon her on the road were transfixed by her sorrow.
37. They all gathered around her, men and women, young and old,
38. The Syrian army, the lords of Syria, all wept from grief like weeping clouds,
39. Their faces streamed with blood to see her sad and painful sobs.
40. At last, her life was gone, her mind went blank; the lofty cypress branch fell over.
41. Her breath stilled in her chest; her spirit was completely sundered from her body.
42. That beauty placed her face upon the soil, saying, “I’ve come for you—are you there, my friend?
43. I’m without hope; don’t turn away, for I am weary. I’ve brought the pain and love of my heart with me.”
44. She spoke; the world shattered love. At once, her comely face relaxed,
45. Her eyes grew dark; the people’s eyes shed blood for her.
46. She left the world, that idol of Qandahar, in close pursuit of her devoted friend.
47. Such are the world’s affairs, in all respects, and so they shall remain; that’s the long and short of it.
48. The two lovers, in their love, left the world in grief and sorrow,
49. Neither one saw but fastness from the other; they did not tread the path of sin and cruelty.
50. In striving for each other, they gave up their lives. Such is the way, the root, the essence.

* Could also be رای, “howling mind”
* Safa’s edition reads زاده, but MC suggests زنده which I like more
* Note that she is talking about her father here; there might be a lacuna in the text