Ghazal · 17th century

The Thought of Saturday

Saeb Tabriziصائب تبریزی

با کمال احتیاج، از خلق استغنا خوش است

In the depth of need, it is good to need nothing from people;

با دهان خشک مردن، بر لب دریا خوش است

it is good to die with a dry mouth on the shore of the sea.

نیست پروا تلخ‌کامان را ز تلخی‌های عشق

The bitter-mouthed have no fear of the bitterness of love:

آب دریا در مذاق ماهی دریا خوش است

to the fish of the sea, sea water tastes good.

کوه طاقت برنمی‌آید به موج حادثات

A mountain of endurance cannot stand against the waves of events;

لنگر از رطل گران کردن در این دریا خوش است

in this sea it is good to make an anchor of a heavy cup of wine.

بادبان کشتی می نعره مستانه است

The drunken shout is the sail of the ship of wine;

های‌وهوی می‌کشان در مجلس صهبا خوش است

the uproar of drinkers is good at the feast.

خرقه تزویر از باد غرور آبستن است

The cloak of hypocrisy swells with the wind of pride;

حق‌پرستی در لباس اطلس و دیبا خوش است

worship of the Truth is good in robes of satin and brocade.

ماه در ابر تنک جولان دیگر می‌کند

The moon moves with another grace behind thin cloud;

چهره طاعت، نهان در پرده شب‌ها خوش است

the face of devotion is best hidden behind the veil of night.

هر چه رفت از عمر، یاد آن به نیکی می‌کنند

Whatever part of life has passed is remembered kindly:

چهره امروز در آیینه فردا خوش است

today’s face looks good in tomorrow’s mirror.

فکر شنبه تلخ دارد جمعه اطفال را

The thought of Saturday makes the children’s Friday bitter;

عشرت امروز بی اندیشه فردا خوش است

today’s pleasure is good without the thought of tomorrow.

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

A note for readers

The first eight of the twelve couplets of a ghazal on the refrain ‘is good’ (khosh ast). Its eighth couplet, on schoolchildren whose Friday holiday is spoiled by the thought of Saturday’s lessons, has become a proverb: in Iran Friday is the weekly day off and Saturday the first day of the school week. Like many of Saeb’s ghazals, it sets a rule for living beside a picture from daily life in every couplet.