Translations
Divan-e Shams by Rumi, in translations by A. J. Arberry
This page shows only poems with translations by A. J. Arberry.
Poems with translations
غزل شمارهٔ 3اِی دل چه اندیشیدهای در عُذرِ آن تقصیرها؟
What excuses have you to offer, my heart, for so many shortcomings? Such constancy on the part of the Beloved, such unfaithfulness on your own!
غزل شمارهٔ 14ای عاشقان ای عاشقان امروز ماییم و شما
O lovers, lovers, this day you and we are fallen into a whirlpool: who knows how to swim?
غزل شمارهٔ 19امروز دیدم یار را آن رونق هر کار را
Today I beheld the beloved, that ornament of every affair; he went off departing to heaven like the spirit of Mus.t.af¯a.
غزل شمارهٔ 26هر لحظه وحی آسمان آید به سر جانها
Every instant a revelation from heaven comes to men’s innermost souls: “How long like dregs do you remain upon earth? Come up!”
غزل شمارهٔ 34ای عاشقان ای عاشقان آمد گه وصل و لقا
O lovers, lovers, the time of union and encounter has come. The proclamation from heaven has come: “Moon-faced beauties, welcome hither!”
غزل شمارهٔ 45با لب او چه خوش بود گفت و شنید و ماجرا
How sweet it is to give speech and head, to converse with his lip, especially when he opens the door and says, “Good sir, come in!”
غزل شمارهٔ 58رسید آن شه رسید آن شه بیارایید ایوان را
The king has come, the king has come; adorn the palace-hall; cut your forearms in honour of the fair one of Canaan.
غزل شمارهٔ 64تو دیدی هیچ عاشق را که سیری بود از این سودا؟
Have you ever seen any lover who was satiated with this passion? Have you ever seen any fish that had become satiated with this sea?
غزل شمارهٔ 69چه باشد گر نگارینم بگیرد دست من فردا
How would it be, if my fair love should take my hand tomorrow, hang his head through the window like the lovely-featured moon?
غزل شمارهٔ 80امروز گزافی ده آن باده نابی را
Today give in full measure that pure wine; strike in utter confusion this hasty wheel of heaven.
غزل شمارهٔ 84چون گل همه تن خندم نه از راه دهان تنها
Like the rose I am laughing with all my body, not only with my mouth, because I am without myself, alone with the king of the world.
غزل شمارهٔ 100بیا ای جان نو داده جهان را
Come, you who have given new life to the world, put out of action cunning reason.
غزل شمارهٔ 110تو بشکن چنگ ما را ای معلا!
Do you break our harp, exalted one; thousands of other harps are here.
غزل شمارهٔ 115ای جان و قوام جمله جانها
O soul and stay of every soul, who bestow wings and set the spirits in motion,
غزل شمارهٔ 122دیدم رخ خوب گلشنی را
I beheld the lovely rosebower face, that eye and lamp of all brightness,
غزل شمارهٔ 132در میان پرده خون عشق را گلزارها
Love has rosebowers amid the veil of blood; lovers have affairs to transact with the beauty of incomparable Love.
غزل شمارهٔ 143دوش من پیغام کردم سوی تو استاره را
Yesterday I gave a star a message for you; I said to it, “Deliver my compliments to that one fair as the moon.”
غزل شمارهٔ 163بروید ای حریفان بِکِشید یار ما را
Go forth, my comrades, draw along our beloved, at last bring to me the fugitive idol;
غزل شمارهٔ 166چمنی که تا قیامت گل او به بار بادا
A garden—may its roses bloom till resurrection-day; an idol—may the two worlds be scattered over its beauty!
غزل شمارهٔ 171چون نمایی آن رخ گلرنگ را
When you display that rosy cheek, you set the stones aspinning for joy.
غزل شمارهٔ 181دل چو دانه ، ما مثال آسیا
The heart is like a grain of corn, we are like a mill; how does the mill know why this turning?
غزل شمارهٔ 188اینجا کسیست پنهان خود را مگیر تنها
Here someone is hidden; suppose not that you are alone. She has very sharp ears; do not open your tongue to evil.
غزل شمارهٔ 196در جنبش اندرآور زلفِ عبرفشان را
Bring into motion your amber-scattering tress; bring into dancing the souls of the Sufis.
غزل شمارهٔ 207 - ای که به هنگامِ درد راحتِ جانی مرا
You who are my soul’s repose in the time of pain, you who are my spirit’s treasure in the bitterness of poverty,
غزل شمارهٔ 211باز بنفشه رسید جانب سوسن دوتا
Again the violet bent double has arrived beside the lily, again the ruby-clad rose is tearing her gown to shreds;
غزل شمارهٔ 213اگر تو عاشق عشقی و عشق را جویا
If you are Love’s lover and in quest of Love, take a sharp dagger and cut the throat of bashfulness.
غزل شمارهٔ 221مرا تو گوش گرفتی همیکشی به کجا
You have seized me by the ear—whither are you drawing me? Declare what is in your heart, and what your purpose is.
غزل شمارهٔ 232چو عشق را تو ندانی بپرس از شبها
If you do not know Love, question the nights, ask of the pale cheek and the dryness of the lips.
غزل شمارهٔ 239کرانی ندارد بیابان ما
Our desert has no bounds, our hearts and souls know no rest.
غزل شمارهٔ 246صد دهل میزنند در دل ما
A hundred drums are being beaten within our hearts, the roar of which we shall hear tomorrow.
غزل شمارهٔ 250هین که منم بر در در برگشا
Hark, for I am at the door! Open the door; to bar the door is not the sign of good pleasure.
غزل شمارهٔ 260چرخ فلک با همه کار و کیا
The wheel of heaven, with all its pomp and splendour, circles around God like a mill.
غزل شمارهٔ 294بریده شد از این جوی جهان آب
The water has been cut off from this world’s river; O springtide, return and bring back the water!—
غزل شمارهٔ 304هیچ میدانی چه میگوید رباب؟
Do you not know what the rebeck says concerning tears of the eyes and burning hearts?
غزل شمارهٔ 310بازآمد آن مهی که ندیدش فلک به خواب
That moon has returned, whose like the sky never saw even in dreams; he has brought a fire which no water can extinguish.
غزل شمارهٔ 314تو را که عشق نداری تو را رواست بخسب
You who possess not Love, it is lawful to you—sleep on; be gone, for Love and Love’s sorrow is our portion—sleep on.
غزل شمارهٔ 321آن خواجه را از نیم شب بیماریی پیدا شدهست
Since midnight sickness has manifested itself in that Master; till daybreak he has been beating his head uncontrollably against our wall.
غزل شمارهٔ 322آمدهام که تا به خود گوش کشان کشانمت
I have come so that, tugging your ear, I may draw you to me, unheart and unself you, plant you in my heart and soul.
غزل شمارهٔ 329بیایید بیایید که گلزار دمیدهست
Come, come, for the rosebower has blossomed; come, come, for the beloved has arrived.
غزل شمارهٔ 332این خانه که پیوسته در او بانگ چغانهست
This house wherein continually rings the sound of the bellstaff—ask of the master what house this house is.
غزل شمارهٔ 341بیا کامروز ما را روز عیدست
Come, for today is for us a day of festival; henceforward joy and pleasure are on the increase.
غزل شمارهٔ 359در این جو دل چو دولاب خرابست
In this river the heart is like a ruined waterwheel; in whichever direction it turns, there is water before it;
غزل شمارهٔ 364تا نقش خیال دوست با ماست
So long as the form of the Beloved’s image is with us, for us the whole of life is a joyful parade.
غزل شمارهٔ 376امروز جنون نو رسیدهست
Today a new madness has arrived, it has dragged the chains of a thousand hearts;
غزل شمارهٔ 381آن ره که بیامدم کدامست
Which is the road by which I came? I would return, for it likes me not here;
غزل شمارهٔ 393جمع باشید ای حریفان زانک وقت خواب نیست
Be gathered together, comrades, for this is not the time to sleep; by Allah, every comrade who sleeps is not of the true companions.
غزل شمارهٔ 395عشق اندر فضل و علم و دفتر و اوراق نیست
Love resides not in science and learning, scrolls and pages; whatever men chatter about, that way is not the lovers’ way.
غزل شمارهٔ 409تا نَلَغْزی کِه زِ خون، راهِ پَس و پیش، تَر اَسْت
Mind you do not slip, for the road behind and ahead is wet with blood; man-robbers are nowadays more numerous than gold-robbers.
غزل شمارهٔ 423مگر این دم سر آن زلف پریشان شده است
Has perchance this instant the tip of that tress become scattered? For such a Tartar musk has become amber-diffusing.
غزل شمارهٔ 436گفتا که کیست بر در گفتم کمین غلامت
He said, “Who is at the door?” I said, “Your humble slave.” He said, “What is your business?” I said, “Lord, to greet you.”