Friday 5 February 2010

Excerpts from Khusrau's Persian Poetry

Khusrau produced a large volume of poetry that in his lifetime, but very little of it has so far been translated into English or any other language. Following are the English renderings of some of his Persian works, collected from various sources. Many of these are also sung by Qawwals. You can read some of them in Persian script here.


Nami danam chi manzil bood shab jaay ki man boodam;
Baharsu raqs-e bismil bood shab jaay ki man boodam.
Pari paikar nigaar-e sarw qadde laala rukhsare;
Sarapa aafat-e dil bood shab jaay ki man boodam.
Khuda khud meer-e majlis bood andar laamakan Khusrau;
Muhammad shamm-e mehfil bood shab jaay ki man boodam.

(Read this poem in Persian script)

I wonder what was the place where I was last night,
All around me were half-slaughtered victims of love,
tossing about in agony.
There was a nymph-like beloved with cypress-like form
and tulip-like face,
Ruthlessly playing havoc with the hearts of the lovers.
God himself was the master of ceremonies in that heavenly court,
oh Khusro, where (the face of) the Prophet too was shedding light
like a candle.

(trans. S.A.H.Abidi)

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