Ghazal · 13th century

Of All That Is Said, the Friend’s Words Are Sweetest

Saadiسعدی

از هرچه می‌رود، سخن دوست خوش‌تر است

Of all that is said, talk of the Friend is sweetest;

پیغام آشنا، نفس روح‌پرور است

a message from one we know is breath that feeds the soul.

هرگز وجود حاضر غایب شنیده‌ای؟

Have you ever heard of someone present and absent?

من در میان جمع و دلم جای دیگر است

I am here among the company, and my heart is somewhere else.

شاهد که در میان نبود، شمع گو: «بمیر»

If the beloved is not here, tell the candle, ‘Die’;

چون هست، اگر چراغ نباشد منور است

if the beloved is, the room is bright without a lamp.

ابنای روزگار به صحرا روند و باغ

The children of the age go out to the fields and gardens;

صحرا و باغ زنده‌دلان، کوی دلبر است

the field and garden of the living-hearted is the beloved’s lane.

جان می‌روم که در قدم اندازمش ز شوق

I come to throw my soul at your feet in longing,

درمانده‌ام هنوز که نزلی محقر است

and still I hesitate, for it is a poor gift.

کاش آن به‌خشم‌رفته ما آشتی‌کنان

If only the one who left us in anger

بازآمدی، که دیده مشتاق بر در است

would come back to make peace, for the longing eye is at the door.

جانا، دلم چو عود بر آتش بسوختی

My love, you burned my heart like aloeswood on the fire,

وین دم که می‌زنم ز غمت، دود مجمر است

and every breath I draw in grief for you is smoke from the censer.

شب‌های بی توام، شب گور است در خیال

Nights without you are, in my thoughts, the night of the grave;

ور بی تو بامداد کنم، روز محشر است

and if I reach the morning without you, it is the Day of Judgement.

From: The Ghazals (Kolliyat)
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

One of Saadi’s best-loved ghazals, whose first couplet is often quoted. It moves from the joy of hearing of the beloved to the pains of separation, with the images of a lover present in body and absent in heart, and of the beloved’s lane as the true garden. The excerpt gives the first eight of its eleven couplets.