poetry

Your hand can seize today, but not tomorrow; and thoughts of your tomorrow are nothing but desire. Don’t waste this breath, if your heart isn’t crazy, since ‘the rest of your life’ won’t last forever. trans. Juan Cole from Whinfield 30

79 Mix together wine, song and heavenly lover if you can, and sit on the bank  of a purling stream. Don’t look for anything better, don’t speak of a forgotten hell; for, really,  there is no other heaven than this. trans. Juan Cole

My heart, your fate is so bloody– and every second your condition must change again. My soul, what business do you have in this body of mine?– Since, when your business is done, you’ll just be out of it. trans. Juan Cole from Whinfield 28

Since today  is the time of my youth, I drink what makes me happy. Don’t speak badly of it–  although it is bitter, it is good. It’s bitter  because it is my life. Trans. Juan Cole from Whinfield 28

That priceless ruby is from a different mine, and that unique pearl is from a different shop. Thinking about this and that is just your imagination, and mine; the story of passionate love is from a different tongue. trans. by Juan Cole From Whinfield 27.

From the house of unbelief to true religion is a single breath; From the world of doubt to certainty is a single breath; Enjoy this precious single breath, for the harvest of our whole lives is that same one breath. trans. by Juan Cole from Whinfield 24

Fish said to duck, frantic, Will the water ever return if the river jumps its course? Duck replied, When you and I are skewered and kebob, let it be a river or let it be mirage. Trans. Juan Cole Whinfield 23

Although we partiers may have good color and smell pleasant, with cheeks like rubies; and though we’re tall as a cypress– it’s just not clear, in this earthly cabaret, why I was prettied up. trans. Juan Cole from Whinfield 12

A lover all his life is frantic and intoxicated– crazy, distracted and disgraced. When we’re sober, everything annoys us; but when we’re drunk, whatever will be, will be trans. Juan Cole from Whinfield 8