Far from the homeland, when lips part to speak,
This Persian candy works wonders, magic unique.
The spell of Rumi’s verse, of Hafez’ deep art,
In distant lands, it uplifts every heart.
A potion of love rides this caravan’s crest—
Saadi himself boasts of its charm manifest.
Open your eyes, and at this threshold stay—
The Masnavi begins to tell your tale today.
Yes, the key to the treasure of bliss is our tongue—
Rumi unlocks his vault where legends are sung.
The world is our homeland, in this unmatched place—
Our Persian speech bestows us with grace.
Honesty's the best policy.*
Tolerance is hypocrisy.
Does the peace of mind lie in this:
"To be in good terms with the friends
And tolerate the enemies"?†
Oh, no! It's but mere phoniness.
The lice of a frank, fatal foe
Are far nobler than a fake friend.
2.23.2024
Notes
* An English proverb
† Proverbial lines by Hafez
No comments, please!
Hafez and I grew up together
in Shiraz, centuries apart with
similar poetic ether.
Wandering the world together
as if from the same mother.
We were never actually together
the word reincarnated is better.
He lives in me and we suffer together
humanity's woes and ethnic the other.
We're global intellectuals chanting together
not the salute of flags and land of the mother
we preach the ethos of unity and together
in trenches of peace and harmony with the other.
We renounce war as our destiny together
and throw nationalism to dustbin as we gather,
tall we stand, and humble, together
on shoulders of giants like Tolstoy, Schweitzer, Camus and reverent other
But, wait, Hafez has asked to write a new stanza together
song of world peace and none other.
In you, full of yourself, we enter together
Go fill your heart with love of the other.
Dedication: To Noam Chomsky
Infectious!
by Hafiz
loose translation by Michael R. Burch
I became infected with happiness tonight
as I wandered idly, singing in the starlight.
Now I'm wonderfully contagious—
so kiss me!
Fastest,Highest and Strongest a moment’s story,
Citius ,Altius ,Forius – a better story of Olympic glory.
Bolt ,Ukhov and Hafez the greatest of achievers
Are only miniature images in the Olympic rings.
March of Athens to London-2012 is over
Yet for another city the torch to twitter;
Track and pace exploring new horizons
Faster,Higher and Stronger as solutions.
The colours of all nations closely intertwine ,
Nations fall ,nations rise,the glories only shine;
Olympics preaches the dignity of participation
Run jump and lift to make life a competition .
Nobody is the strongest only stronger prevails ,
Nobody is the fastest , time better unveils .21.08.2012
We are the suffering generation
The Conspiracy of Incineration
Has been unleashed upon our Nation.
Battered and bruised, we hold our stations
Against the onslaught of our Education
I can hear them calling me
Feeding off my misery
Will I ever be set free
Will they ever let me be
I weep now for what befalls
The men who walk between these walls
And tremble as the Siren calls
Yet there will be a joyous day
Where we command and you obey!
Inspired by Mohammad Hafez
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