Thursday, April 14, 2011

quatrain 64

Sunlight offers four versions of quatrain #64, in addition to the Houshmand version discussed at rotting lips.

When I die, lay out the corpse.
You may want to kiss my lips,
just beginning to decay. Don't be frightened
if I open my eyes.

version by Coleman Barks

when i die
hand me over
to my sweetheart
one kiss
on my dead lips
don't be surprised
if I come alive

translation by Nader Khalili

When I die,
lay my copse to rest,
but do not be at all surprised
If His kiss on my tattered lips
brings me back to life.

translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi

If I die, lay me next to the Beloved.

If He looks at me, don't be surprised.
If He kisses me on the lips, don't be surprised.
If I open my eyes and smile, don't be surprised.

version by Jonathan Star

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, April 01, 2011

quatrain 75

From sunlight, a version of quatrain #75, to add to the version by Houshmand discussed at a room for fear:
this earthly body of ours
is the light of the heavens
our agile flights
are the envy of angels
one day the celestial bodies
wish to have our pure souls
one day we are a dare devil
who frightens a monster

translation by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Dancing the Flame, Cal-Earth Press, 2001

Labels: ,