A Poem by Nossrat Rahmani

Nossrat Rahmani is one of the most renowned Iranian modern poets. Here I have translated into English one of his famous pieces. Read the original text in Persian.













These days
Thus I am, look:
My hand moves so slow, as if
I had already written every virgin poem
My legs drag me so very tiresomely, as if
I have already gone through every path
To ending of everywhere
Even have heard
Each time
Wail of the coup de grâce
My friend

These days
Whoever I make friends with, I feel
We’ve been friends long enough
That it is now time for treachery

Amount of sorrow has exceeded
Its own bounds and borders
It’s been a while I have nothing to do
Like a minister
You are nothing
When you have nothing to do
I am nothing; I am a poet
I suppose you don’t understand the allusion
These days
Thus I am
An apparition-of-Farhaad *
Who has lost his hammer

That’s how demolition commences
Thus began decline of men’s dynasty
Comrades
When the clamor of the event fades away
Carve on my gravestone
“A warrior who never fought
Yet … was defeated.”


* Farhaad is the name of a legendary character who fell in love with Shirin, the wife of Khosrau II of Persia.

© Vahid 2007 Goossun Art-illery