lera-92-07 diary

petak, 20.11.2009.

Well I heard about Hafiz's poetry tonight on CBC Radio One

Well I heard about Hafiz's poetry tonight on CBC Radio One. Yummy stuff. The wikipedia entry doesn't do too much justice compared to the documentary stuff I heard on the radio. They compared 2 different translations of the same verse, and it's tricky stuff. They discussed how there is no gender in the Persian language... (well none used in this poetry anyhow) that must add another level of meaning to poetry that is pretty lush and sensual. It's ghazals, I think... devotional religious poetry that uses metaphors to hide its religious imagery: intoxication, with wine, but referring to religious ecstasy; lovers, meaning God (like the Song of Songs). According to this radio program, Sufism likes to refer to religious imagery not permitted in other flavours of Islam, so it became metaphors in the poetry. Whether written as religious imagery, or just as earthy poetry, who really knows I guess.Apparently Hafiz's poetry has remained part of the main culture of the everyday person. Coolness!Here's a version of a poem they dissected on the radio... unfortunately the translator didn't think to use the phrase "sweaty curls" in this version. ;)Last night, as half asleep I dreaming lay, Half naked came she in her little shift, With tilted glass, and verses on her lips; Narcissus-eyes all shining for the fray, Filled full of frolic to her wine-red lips, Warm as a dewy rose, suddenly she slips Into my bed just in her little shift. Said she, half naked, half asleep, half heard, With a soft sigh betwixt each lazy word, "O my old lover, do you sleep or wake?" And instant I sat upright for her sake, And drank whatever wine she poured for me Wine of the tavern, or vintage it might be Of Heavens own vine: he surely were a churl Who refused wine poured out by such a girl, A double traitor he to wine and love. Go to, you puritan! the gods above Ordained this wine for us, but not for you; Drunkards we are by a divine decree, Yes, by the special privilege of heaven Foredoomed to drink and foreordained forgiven. Ah! Hafiz, you are not the only man Who promised penitence and broke down after; For who can keep so hard a promise, man, With wine and woman brimming full of laughter! O curling locks, filled like a flower with scent, How have you ravished this poor penitent! Ooh! Same poem, different translation... this time with a swapped up gender of the main subject. :DGhazl No. 10 from the Divan of HafizHis mop of hair tangled, sweating, laughing and drunk,Shirt torn, singing poems, flask in hand,His eyes spoiling for a fight, his lips mouthing Alas!Last night at midnight he came and sat by my pillow.He bent his head to my ear and said, sadly,O, my ancient lover, are you sleeping?The seeker to whom they give such a cup at dawnIs an infidel to love if he will not worship the wine.O hermit, go and do not quibble with those who drink the dregs,For on the eve of creation this was all they gave to us.What he poured in our cup we drank,Whether the mead of Heaven, or the wine of drunkenness.The cups smile and the wine boys knotted curlHave broken many vows of chastity, like that of Hafiz.first translation 2nd translation

Ovaj blog je ustupljen pod Creative Commons licencom Imenovanje-Dijeli pod istim uvjetima.

Dnevnik.hr
Gol.hr
Zadovoljna.hr
Novaplus.hr
NovaTV.hr
DomaTV.hr
Mojamini.tv