That one is my desire
show me your face
i crave
flowers and gardens
open your lips
i crave
the taste of honey
come out from
behind the clouds
i desire a sunny face
your voice echoed
saying “leave me alone”
i wish to hear your voice
again saying “leave me alone”
i swear this city without you
is a prison
i am dying to get out
to roam in deserts and mountains
i am tired of
flimsy friends and
submissive companions
i die to walk with the brave
am blue hearing
nagging voices and meek cries
i desire loud music
drunken parties and
wild dance
one hand holding
a cup of wine
one hand caressing your hair
then dancing in orbital circle
that is what i yearn for
i can sing better than any nightingale
but because of
this city’s freaks
i seal my lips
while my heart weeps
yesterday the wisest man
holding a lit lantern
in daylight
was searching around town saying
i am tired of
all these beasts and brutes
i seek
a true human
we have all looked
for one but
no one could be found
they said
yes he replied
but my search is
for the one
who cannot be found
– Translation by Nader Khalili










August 3rd, 2007 at 8:23 am
Damn it … That’s beautiful!
August 5th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
beautiful:)
is it by Rumi?
August 8th, 2007 at 5:39 am
Takbeer!
Beautiful translation.
Raza saahb, you probably already know abt it, but Sunlight Yahoo groups does these neat comparative translations/ versions of 1 poem in 1 post; “That one is my Desire” was featured recently there..
Tashakkor for your service to Literature, Raza saahb.
August 9th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
that was so pretty, i think that was just magical truly great job.
August 10th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
[…] another beauty while surfing the net!!! That one is my desire […]
August 14th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Madiha: yes this is by Rumi
Zainab: thanks, I visit Sunlight group regularly and also cross-post materials from there.
Maliha,Zobaria: many thanks