Skip to main content

Nizar Qabbani: "Less Beautiful" (From Arabic)

Completely revised this translation as a result of my encounter with Stephen Frug's take on my original attempt

Less Beautiful
By Nizar Qabbani
Translated by A.Z. Foreman
Click here to hear me recite the Arabic

Whenever I see you, I despair of my verse.
I only despair of my poems
When I am with you.
Beautiful you are...so much
So that when I think about what awe you strike... I gasp for breath.
As my language gasps
And my lexicon gasps
For breath.
Deliver me from these problematics!
Be less beautiful
So I can recover my poetics.
Be a typical woman
Of kohl, perfume, pregnancy and childbirth.
Be a woman
Like any other,
And reconcile me with my language
And my tongue.

The Original:


??? ?????
???? ?????

????? ???????... ???? ?? ??????
???? ?? ????? ?? ??????
???? ??? ???? ????...
????? ???... ??? ???? ????
???? ?????? ?????????...??????...
?????? ????...
???????? ???????...
???????? ?? ??? ???????
???? ????? ???????...
???? ??????? ???????
???? ?????? ?????
????????? ????????...?????...??????
????
????? ???? ???? ??????
??? ??????? ?? ????
??? ???.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sazaa-e-husn-e-paraasti - Firaq Gorakhpuri

 Sazaa-e-husn-e-paraasti bajaa, bajaa bhi nahin Ki jurm-e-ishq butaan hai buraa, buraa bhi nahin Kisi ko kya na milaa zindagi mein waa-e-naseeb Humaare haath bas ik dil rahaa, rahaa bhi nahin Udhar qadam bhi uthaanye de bad-dimaagi-e-ishq Hum aison par dar-e-Jannat khulaa, khulaa bhi nahin Nazar farebi-e-tahreer le udi mujhko Sirey se naama-e-jaanan padha, padha bhi nahin Tamaam shokhi-e-raftaar teri raahguzar Qadam ka naksh kuchh aisa utha, utha bhi nahin Wo jaise hai hi nahin is adaa se saamne hai Agar kahoon ki mujhse khafa, khafa bhi nahin Hum usko dekh ke bhi aah kis tarah dekhein Nazaara-e-rukh-e-jaanan hua, hua bhi nahin Nigaah-e-naaz se sun ke dil udaas hua Agar kahein ke kuchh usne kahaa, kahaa bhi nahin Jamaan-maqaan ka ye parda hijaab-e-aqbar hai Hazaar baar ye parda utha, utha bhi nahin Bas ik nigaah ki parchhiyaan baqaa-o-fanaa Baqaa, Baqaa bhi nahin hai, fanaa, fanaa bhi nahin Jisye muaamla-e-husn-o-ishq kahte hain Hazaar baar ye jhagda chukaa, chukaa bhi nahin Wo aan...
Post a Comment
Read more

(Bang-e-Dra-126) Traduction Fran�aise: Pri�re

Dua Prayer Pri�re Ya Rab! Dil-e-Muslim Ko Woh Zinda Tamana De Jo Qalb Ko Garma De, Jo Rooh Ko Tarpa De Lord, fill the Muslim�s heart with a desire so fervent That it will set his heart aflame and stir his soul. � Allah ! Habilite le c�ur des Musulmans de ce d�sir ardent qui emballe le c�ur et qui violente l'�me. Phir Wadi-e-Faran Ke Har Zarre Ko Chamka De Phir Shauq-e-Tamasha De, Phir Zauq-e-Taqaza Light up again every speck of dust in the Valley of Faran. Make us long again for beautiful sights, and create in us the urge to make demands. Ensuite fait briller chaque particule de La vall�e de Faran.  Puis donne nous la curiosit� voir et exhorte nous � te solliciter. Mehroom-e-Tamasha Ko Phir Dida-e-Beena De Dekha Hai Jo Kuch Mein Ne Auron Ko Bhi Dikhla De Give piercing vision to those deprived of sight, and show to others what I have seen. A ceux qui ne peuvent pas voir, donne leur la capacit� de voir(comprendre) Que ce que j'ai vu d'autres puissent le voir aussi.  Bhatke Hu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lagta Hai

Post a Comment
Read more