A river of fire
between your soul and mine
mine unburdened itself
of this love’s impossible wound
As this glitter reflected on her
I ran away from that look, that lip
I looked at her silently, from far,
as this river reflected on her . . .
translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat
Ahmet Hasim
“out of the beloved’s lip” by Ahmet Haşim
Out of the beloved’s lip
a carat of fire is this carnation
my soul knows it, its pain
As it falls, it’s hit around.
butterflies reeking of anger
my soul wheeling round. . .
translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat
Glass by Ahmet Haşim
Don’t think it’s rose, or tulip,
filled with fire, don’t hold it, you burn,
this rosy glass.
Fuzuli had drunk of this fire
Majnun, fallen with its elixir
into the state of this poem.
Those drinking from this cup burning
why, filling the night of love
with moans and mint, end to end.
Filled with fire, don’t hold it you burn
this rosy glass.
translated by Murat Nemet-Nejat
Staircase by Ahmet Hasim
Slowly, slowly will you mount this staircase
–A heap of sun-tinged leaves upon your skirts–
And for a while gaze weeping at the sky. . .
The waters darken and your face grows pale,
Look at the scarlet air, for evening comes. . .
Bowed towards the earth, the roses,
Flame-like the nightingales bleed upon the boughs;
Has morning turned to bronze, do waters burn?
This is a secret tongue that fills the soul
Look at the scarlet air, for evening comes. . .
translated by Bernard Lewis
Darkness by Ahmet Hasim
On this dark night of love
Wildly the nightingale sings,
Has Leyla left Mejnun?
I thought the Wild voice sang of parting pain.
On this dark night of love
I felt my grief, remembered you,
Burned like the love-lorn nightingale’s sad refrain.
translated by Bernard Lewis
Pool by Ahmet Hasim
Deep down, the night has massed again
My darling smiles in her wonted place
My darling who doesn’t come by day
Appears at night by the pool.
The moonlight a sash for her waist
The heavens her secret veil
The stars roses in her hand.
translated by Bernard Lewis
Leonard Durso 