Qit'a · 14th century

Nothing Left in the House but Me

Obeyd Zakaniعبید زاکانی

بیش از این از ملک هر سالی مرا

Before this, every year, from my land

خرده‌ای از هر کناری آمدی

some small sum would come to me from every side.

در وثاقم نان خشک و تره‌ای

In my lodging there was dry bread and some greens

در میان بودی چو یاری آمدی

to set out whenever a friend came by.

گه گهی هم باده حاضر میشدی

And now and then there was wine as well,

گر ندیمی یا نگاری آمدی

if a companion or a sweetheart came.

نیست در دستم کنون از خشک و تر

Now I have nothing in hand, dry or fresh,

زآنچه وقتی در کناری آمدی

of all that once came in from every side.

غیر من در خانه‌ام چیزی نماند

Nothing is left in my house but me,

هم نماندی گر به کاری آمدی

and I would not be left either, if I were good for anything.

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

A note for readers

A short comic piece on Obeyd’s poverty, one of his favourite themes. The income from his land has dried up, and the bread, greens and occasional wine he once set before his guests are gone; the last line delivers the joke, that he too would have been sold off if he had been worth anything.