She killed me with a sideways glance: Persian Ghazal
Mara ba ghamza kusht, o qaza ra bahana sakht
Khud suye ma na deed, o haya ra bahana sakht
Raftam ba masjidi ke babinam jamaal-e-dost
Dasti ba rukh kashid, o dua ra bahana sakht
Daste ba dosh-e ghair, nihade bar-e karam
Mara chun deed laghzish-e pa ra bahana sakht
Zahid na dasht tab-e-jamaal-e pari rukhan
Kunji girift o yad-e khuda ra bahana sakht
by Nizami Ganjavi: Persian Sufi poet, 1141-1209
Key Vocabulary:
Bahana: an excuse, a pretext
Sakht: he made
Zahid: an ascetic who takes on a life of poverty and isolates himself from human society, in order to concentrate on God through prayers, fasting and contemplation.
English Translation
She killed me with a sideways glance, “your fate”--is what she claimed
Never deigned to look at me face on, ‘I’m modest’--is what she claimed
To the mosque I dragged myself hoping for the beloved’s glimpse
Raising her hands to her face, “was praying”--is what she claimed.
Strolling about the town his hands entwined on my rival’s shoulders
Seeing me he sprang apart and “I was slipping”—is what he claimed.
The zahid has not the strength to bear the Beauty of the beloved’s face
Retiring to a corner with a rosary, “I’m praying”--is what he claims.the ghazal has been sung by K.L. Saigal and is beautiful to hear....try and get it if you can
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