An Ode by Sa’di
(13th century C.E.)
O’ laughing darling! Who has tasted your ruby lips?
O’ garden of purity! Who has bitten the quince of your cheek?
Nobody has ever had such a beautiful hunt
Nobody has ever sliced such a sweet melon
Is that wine on your skirt? or, the blood of your victim?
Or the stain of the black mulberry?
You are associating with all, but escaping from me
It is not your guilt, but it is my misfortune
The fruit well no longer remain in the garden
When everybody knew it was ripe and sweet
It is good that the wall collapsed at once
So you won’t claim nobody has seen the garden
Remember the rose, yesterday, when it did not open its mouth
See it today, when its all secrets have gone with the wind
Sa’di, knock another door in dream of love
Leave this farm, where flocks have pastured
Translated by Asef Fekrat
(13th century C.E.)
O’ laughing darling! Who has tasted your ruby lips?
O’ garden of purity! Who has bitten the quince of your cheek?
Nobody has ever had such a beautiful hunt
Nobody has ever sliced such a sweet melon
Is that wine on your skirt? or, the blood of your victim?
Or the stain of the black mulberry?
You are associating with all, but escaping from me
It is not your guilt, but it is my misfortune
The fruit well no longer remain in the garden
When everybody knew it was ripe and sweet
It is good that the wall collapsed at once
So you won’t claim nobody has seen the garden
Remember the rose, yesterday, when it did not open its mouth
See it today, when its all secrets have gone with the wind
Sa’di, knock another door in dream of love
Leave this farm, where flocks have pastured
Translated by Asef Fekrat
