Saturday, January 17, 2009

quatrain 403

Sunlight has provided two more versions of quatrain 403. The Houshmand translation was discussed here under that pure gem.

We have this way of talking,
and we have another.
Apart from what we wish
and what we fear may happen,
we are alive with other life,
as clear stones
take form in the mountains.

version by Coleman Barks

I have a tongue
beside this tongue
I have a hell and paradise
beside the ones you know
free spirited humans are
alive in others' souls
their pure diamond
is from another source

trans by Nader Khalili

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Thursday, January 08, 2009

quatrain 44

From Sunlight, two versions of quatrain 44:
I pretended to leap
to see if I could live there.

Someday I must actually arrive there,
or nothing will be left to arrive.

version by Coleman Barks

i imagine marching
to heaven drunk
looking for God
if He is to be found
either my feet
must help me
reach my dream
or i'll lose my head
as i've lost my heart

trans by Nader Khalili

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