A Poem from Sa’adi
بنی آدم اعضای یک پیکر اند
که در آفرینش ز یک گوهر اند
چو عضوی به‌درد آورد روزگار
دگر عضوها را نماند قرار
تو کز محنت دیگران بی‌غمی
نشاید که نامت نهند آدمی
All men and women are to each other
the limbs of a single body, each of us drawn
from life’s shimmering essence, God’s perfect pearl;
and when this life we share wounds one of us,
all share the hurt as if it were our own.
You, who will not feel another’s pain,
you forfeit the right to be called human.
SMS sent on 28/11/2021
A Poem from Omar Khayam
خیام اگر ز باده مستی خوش باش
با ماه‌رخی اگر نشستی خوش باش
چون عاقبت کار جهان نیستی هست
انگار که نیستی چو هستی خوش باش
Khayyam, if you are drunk on wine,
enjoy it.
If your lover’s cheeks are rosy,
enjoy it.
Since all existing things will end in nothing,
Dream you’re nothing and, while existing,
enjoy it.
SMS sent on 29/11/2021
A Poem from Rumi
نه من بیهوده گرد کوچه و بازار می‌گردم
مزاج عاشقی دارم پی دلدار می‌گردم
خدایا رحم کن بر من پریشان وار می‌گردم
خطا کارم گنه‌کارم به حال زار می‌گردم
شراب شوق می‌نوشم به گرد یار می‌گردم
سخن مستانه می‌گویم ولی هوشیار می‌گردم
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 I may seem drunk
I am quite sober
SMS sent on 30/11/2021
A Poem from Sa’adi
من آن نیم که حلال از حرام نشناسم
شراب با تو حلال است و آب بی‌تو حرام
I understand the difference between halal
and haram
But, with you, wine is halal; without you,
water is haram.
SMS sent on 01/12/2021
“The Smell of Blood” by Sara Ardehali
شنا می‌کنم
از این سو به آن سو
زیرآبی می‌روم
تا آن‌جا که نفس دارم
انگشتانم را به کف استخر می‌کشم
ناگهان
یادت
چون کوسه‌ای به سمتم بر می‌گردد
I swim
from this side to that
I go underwater
for as long as I can hold my breath
I trail my fingers along the bottom of the pool
suddenly
the memory of you
returns, swimming toward me like a shark.
SMS sent on 02/12/2021
A Poem by Jalal Nazari
انگشتانت ادامه زنده گيست
و ادامه عشق
كه از دست هايت بيرون زده اند
در سينه ات قصه اسرار آميز كدام سرزمين را پنهان كرده اي ؟
دستم را در دستت بگذار
سرم را در سينه ات بچسبان
تا تمام مرزهاي جهان را از بين ببرم
و سرزمين تازه اي كشف كنم.
Your fingertips prolong this life
Prolong this love
Emanating from your hands
What untold stories from unknown lands lie hidden in your heart?
Place my hand in your hand
Clasp my head to your chest
Till every border of the world is destroyed
And a new homeland discovered
SMS sent on 03/12/2021
A Poem by Hafez
زلف آشفته و خوی‌کرده و خندان لب و مست
پیرهن چاک و غزل‌خوان و صُراحی در دست
نرگسش عربده جوی و لبش افسوس کنان
نیمه شب دوش به بالین من آمد بنشست
سر فرا گوش من آورد به آواز حزین
گفت ای عاشق دیرینه‌ی من خوابت هست
عاشقی را که چنین باده شبگیر دهند
کافر عشق بود گر نشود باده پرست
برو ای زاهد و بر دردکشان خرده مگیر
که ندادند جز این تحفه به ما روز الست
آن چه او ریخت به پیمانه‌ی ما نوشیدیم
اگر از خمر بهشت است وگر باده‌ی مست
خنده‌ی جام می و زلف گره‌گیر نگار
ای بسا توبه که چون توبه‌ی حافظ بشکست
Last night she brought me wine, and sat beside my pillow;
Her hair hung loose, her dress was torn, her face perspired –
She smiled and sang of love, with mischief in her eyes,
And whispering in my ear, she drunkenly inquired:
“My ancient lover, can it be that you’re asleep?
The true initiate, when offered wine at night,
Would be a heretic of love if he refused
To take the draught he’s given, and drink it with delight.”
And as for you, you hypocrites, don’t cavil at
Lovers who drain life to the lees, since we were given
This nature when the world began, and we must drink
The wine that’s poured for us, whether from earth or heaven.
So take the laughing wine cup, raise it in your hand,
Caress your lover’s curls, and say Hafez has spoken;
How many vows of abstinence the world has seen
So fervently affirmed, and – like Hafez’s – broken.
SMS sent on 04/12/2021
Image Credit: Anna Kucera
Image Description: Taken during the Dorr-e Dari premiere at Sydney Festival 2021, Jawad, Bibi and Mahdi are holding a book and are turning in circles. The projection behind them is a deep night purple and white Persian text is displayed in circles that appear to never end.