Qasida · 11th century

Give My Greetings to Khorasan

Naser Khosrowناصرخسرو

سلام کن ز من ای باد مر خراسان را

O wind, give my greetings to Khorasan,

مر اهل فضل و خرد را نه عام نادان را

to its people of learning and wisdom, not to the ignorant crowd.

خبر بیاور ازیشان به من چو داده بوی

Bring me news of them, once you have given them

ز حال من به حقیقت خبر مر ایشان را

true news of how I am.

بگویشان که جهان سرو من چو چنبر کرد

Tell them the world has bent my cypress into a hoop

به مکر خویش و، خود این است کار، گیهان را

by its cunning; and such is the way of the world.

نگر که‌تان نکند غره عهد و پیمانش

Take care its pacts and promises do not deceive you,

که او وفا نکند هیچ عهد و پیمان را

for it keeps faith with no pact or promise.

From: The Divan of Naser Khosrow
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

The opening of a qasida written in exile, sending a message by the wind to the learned of Khorasan, the poet's homeland. The 'cypress' bent into a hoop is his once upright body, bowed by age. Later in the poem he recalls the power of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, conqueror of India, and asks where all that glory has gone now that death has taken him.