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 1195سوی خانه خویش آمد عشق آن عاشق نواز
The love of that cherisher of lovers has come to his own house; Love has in form-conceiving a form melting all forms.
غزل شمارهٔ 1201برای عاشق و دزدست شب فراخ و دراز
Night is broad and long for the sake of lovers and thieves; ho, come, strumpet night, and do the business of both!
غزل شمارهٔ 1211ای روترش به پیشم بد گفتهای مرا پس
Sour-faced one, in my presence you spoke evil of me; the mouth of the vulture always smells of carrion.
غزل شمارهٔ 1223قرین مه دو مریخند و آن دو چشمت ای دلکش
Consorts of the Moon are your two Mars, which are those two eyes of yours, Darling; with that H¯ar¯ut and M¯ar¯ut of yours draw the litigious ones to Babylon.
غزل شمارهٔ 1235نگاری را که میجویم به جانش
The fair one whom I am seeking with all my soul I do not see amongst those present here.
غزل شمارهٔ 1246دوش رفتم در میان مجلس سلطان خویش
Last night I went into the midst of the assembly of my king; I saw my soul in a beaker in the hand of the saki.
غزل شمارهٔ 1254من توام تو منی ای دوست مرو از بر خویش
I am you, you are I, O friend; do not depart from your own breast; do not deem yourself other, do not drive yourself from your own door.
غزل شمارهٔ 1270مستی امروز من نیست چو مستی دوش
My drunkenness of today is not like yesterday’s drunkenness; do you not believe me? Take a glass, and drink!
غزل شمارهٔ 1288چو رو نمود به منصور وصل دلدارش
When union with the Beloved showed itself to Mans.¯ur, it was right that the gallows should bring him to the heart’s Origin.
غزل شمارهٔ 1299گویند شاه عشق ندارد وفا دروغ
They say, “The king of love is not faithful.” Lies! They say, “Your night will never have a dawn.” Lies!
غزل شمارهٔ 1301ما دو سه رند عشرتی جمع شدیم این طرف
We two or three gay reprobates have gathered together on this side like camels, face to face, muzzles plunged in the provender.
غزل شمارهٔ 1304باده نمیبایدم فارغم از درد و صاف
I have no need of wine, I am indifferent to lees and pure liquor; I thirst for my own blood, the time of battle has come.
غزل شمارهٔ 1317آن میر دروغین بین با اسپک و با زینک
Look at that false prince with his little horse and little saddle, knavish and scoundrelly, his head bound in cloth of gold;
غزل شمارهٔ 1326عاشقیّ و آنگَهانی نام و ننگ؟
What, loverhood and then concern for name and shame? That should not be; Love’s village is stone on stone!
غزل شمارهٔ 1335بانگ زدم نیم شبان کیست در این خانه دل
I cried out at midnight, “Who is in this house of the heart?” He said, “It is I, by whose countenance the sun and the moon are put to shame.”
غزل شمارهٔ 1353چگونه برنپرد جان چو از جناب جلال
Why does the soul not take wing, when from the presence of Glory the address of grace like sugar comes to the soul saying, “Come up”?
غزل شمارهٔ 1372این بار من یک بارگی در عاشقی پیچیدهام
This time I am wholly involved in loverhood, this time I am wholly cut off from well-being.
غزل شمارهٔ 1380دی بر سرم تاج زری بنهاده است آن دلبرم
Yesterday my darling placed a golden crown on my head; however many blows you may strike, it will not fall from my head.
غزل شمارهٔ 1393مُرده بُدم زنده شدم، گریه بُدم خنده شدم
I was dead, I became alive; I was weeping, I became laughing; the power of love came, and I became everlasting power.
غزل شمارهٔ 1397زین دو هزاران من و ما ای عجبا من چه منم
Of these two thousand I’s and we’s I wonder, which one am I? Give ear to my babble, do not lay your hand on my mouth.
غزل شمارهٔ 1414درخت و آتشی دیدم ندا آمد که جانانم
I saw a tree and a fire. A call came, “My darling!” That fire is calling me; am I Moses son of ‘Imr¯an?
غزل شمارهٔ 1422طواف حاجیان دارم به گرد یار میگردم
I circumambulate with the pilgrims, I circle around the Beloved; I have not the character of dogs, I do not go around carrion.
غزل شمارهٔ 1429نه آن بیبهره دلدارم که از دلدار بگریزم
I am not that luckless lover, to flee from the Beloved; I do not hold that dagger in my hand to flee from battle.
غزل شمارهٔ 1437چو رعد و برق می خندد ثنا و حمد می خوانم
When the thunder and lightning laugh, I recite paeans of praise, I am full of light as the clear sky, I am circling around the moon.
غزل شمارهٔ 1447رفتم به طبیب جان گفتم که ببین دستم
I went to the physician of the soul, I said, “Look at my hand. I am heartlorn and sick at once, both lover and intoxicated.
غزل شمارهٔ 1458یک لحظه و یک ساعت دست از تو نمیدارم
Not for one single moment do I let hold of you, for you are my whole concern, you are my whole affair.
غزل شمارهٔ 1462صورتگر نقاشم هر لحظه بتی سازم
I am a painter, a picture-maker, every moment I fashion an idol, then before you I melt away all the idols,
غزل شمارهٔ 1463شاگرد تو می باشم گر کودن و کژپوزم
I am your disciple, for all that I am stupid and twisted of mouth, so that I may learn one smile from your smiling lip.
غزل شمارهٔ 1472دگربار دگربار ز زنجیر بجستم
Once again, once again I have escaped from my chains, I have burst out of these bonds and this trap which seizes the infirm.
غزل شمارهٔ 1486چون آینه رازنما باشد جانم
Like a mirror my soul displays secrets; I am able not to speak, but I am unable not to know.
غزل شمارهٔ 1489ساقی ز پی عشق روان است روانم
Saki, my spirit is moving in the track of love, but because of your weariness my tongue is tied.
غزل شمارهٔ 1503غلامم خواجه را آزاد کردم
I am the slave who set the master free, I am the one who taught the teacher.
غزل شمارهٔ 1508سفر کردم به هر شهری دویدم
I made a journey, I ran to every city, no man I saw with your grace and beauty.
غزل شمارهٔ 1515چه نزدیک است جان تو به جانم
How close your soul is to my soul! For whatever thing you are thinking, I know.
غزل شمارهٔ 1521من از عالم تو را تنها گزینم
Out of all the world I choose you alone; do you deem it right for me to sit sorrowful?
غزل شمارهٔ 1531بیا کامروز شَه را ما شکاریم
Come, for today we are the quarry of the King, we have no need for self and the world.
غزل شمارهٔ 1538بر آن بودم که فرهنگی بجویم
I was intent on seeking a stratagem, that that moon-faced one might set his face on mine.
غزل شمارهٔ 1546رفتم تصدیع از جهان بردم
I departed, ridding the world of the trouble of my presence, I escaped from anguish with my life;
غزل شمارهٔ 1554چون ذره به رقص اندرآییم
We are dancing like motes, we obey the command of your sun.
غزل شمارهٔ 1559من دوش به تازه عهد کردم
Last night I vowed anew, I swore an oath by your life,
غزل شمارهٔ 1562گر ناز تو را به گفت نارم
If I do not express in speech your elegance, I have your love within my breast.
غزل شمارهٔ 1564روزی که گذر کنی به گورم
On the day when you pass over my grave, bring to mind this terror and confusion of mine;
غزل شمارهٔ 1576ما زنده به نور کبریاییم
We are living by the light of Majesty, we are strangers and exceeding familiar.
غزل شمارهٔ 1585ای جهان آب و گل تا من تو را بشناختم
O world of water and clay, since I knew you I have known a myriad tribulations and pains.
غزل شمارهٔ 1590چون ز صورت برتر آمد آفتاب و اخترم
Since my sun and star arose higher than form, I am happier to go from realities into realities.
غزل شمارهٔ 1604بده آن باده دوشین که من از نوش تو مستم
Give me that last night’s wine, for I am intoxicated by your potion; H. ¯atim of the world, give into my hand a huge cup.
غزل شمارهٔ 1610منم آن عاشق عشقت که جز این کار ندارم
I am that lover of your love who have no occupation but this, for I have nothing but disapproval for him who is not a lover.
غزل شمارهٔ 1615من اگر دست زنانم نه من از دستِ زنانم
If I am hand-clapping, I belong not to the clappers; I am neither of this nor of that, I am of that mighty city.
غزل شمارهٔ 1620هوسی است در سر من که سر بشر ندارم
There is a passion in my head that I have no inclination for mankind, this passion makes me so that I am unaware of myself.
غزل شمارهٔ 1623هذیان که گفت دشمن به درون دل شنیدم
The ravings which my enemy uttered I heard within my heart; the secret thoughts he harbored against me I also perceived.