.

And by a prudent flight and cunning save A life which valour could not, from the grave. A better buckler I can soon regain, But who can get another life again? Archilochus

Friday, September 5, 2014

Kabul Dreams

Oh, the beautiful city of Kabul wears a rugged mountain skirt,
And the rose is jealous of its lash-like thorns.
The dust of Kabul's blowing soil smarts lightly in my eyes,
But I love her, for knowledge and love both come from her dust.

I sing bright praises to her colourful tulips,
The beauty of her trees makes me blush.
How sparkling the water flows from Pul-i-Mastaan!
May Allah protect such beauty from the evil eye of man!

Khizr chose Kabul to Paradise,
For her mountains brought him near to heaven's delights.
The fort's dragon-sprawling walls guard the city well,
Each brick is more precious than the treasure of Shayagan.

Every street in Kabul fascinates the eye.
In the bazaars, Egypt's caravans pass by.
No one can count the beauteous moons on her rooftops,
And hundreds of lovely suns hide behind her walls.

Her morning's laugh is as gay as flowers,
Her dark nights shine like beautiful hair.
Her tuneful nightingales sing with flame in their notes,
Fiery songs like burning leaves, fall from their throats.

I sing to the gardens, Jahanara and Sharbara.
- Mirza Muhammed Ali Saib, "Kabul"

5 comments:

FreeThinke said...

YIKES! What hideous jarring sounds!

Excruciating punishment to my classically-orientated ears. How CAN you bear such things?

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

I grew up with Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath.

There's more to music than the Apollonian. And when you're "gearing-up" for football, or battle, it's a great way to "tune-out".

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Ecclesiastes 3"

FreeThinke said...

I grew up with Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath.

YIKES!!!

It's a wonder you became civilized at ALL.

Thersites said...

Civilized? What makes you think I ever became civilized? I can take or LEAVE civilization. ;)