Rumi: The Guest House
Firstly I found the poem in Portuguese. It was on a splendid blog having as motto a quote from Montaigne: Filosofar é aprender a morrer.
Listen now to the verses as they are read in this video: each one in English, then in Portuguese. It differs here and there with the version above.
(video by Timeless Teaching)
I tried to translate it in English. I wasn't satisfied at all with my rendering. Eventually I found a splendid English version on the net, by Coleman Barks, a man who, despite the lack of knowledge of Persian, has given great translations of Rumi's poems.
And here is in Romanian. I found it on a blog with a great name, Reflectii pe o frunza (Reflexions on a Leaf), and the blogpost had a great title, Esente de Rumi in Khartoum (Essences of Rumi, in Khartoum). I modified it a little.
(Iranian Film and Poetry)
O ser humano é uma casa de hóspedes.
Toda manhã uma nova chegada.
A alegria, a depressão, a falta de sentido, como visitantes inesperados.
Receba e entretenha a todos
Mesmo que seja uma multidão de dores
Que violentamente varrem sua casa e tira seus móveis.
Ainda assim trate seus hóspedes honradamente.
Eles podem estar te limpando
para um novo prazer.
O pensamento escuro, a vergonha, a malícia,
encontre-os à porta rindo.
Agradeça a quem vem,
porque cada um foi enviado
como um guardião do além.
Toda manhã uma nova chegada.
A alegria, a depressão, a falta de sentido, como visitantes inesperados.
Receba e entretenha a todos
Mesmo que seja uma multidão de dores
Que violentamente varrem sua casa e tira seus móveis.
Ainda assim trate seus hóspedes honradamente.
Eles podem estar te limpando
para um novo prazer.
O pensamento escuro, a vergonha, a malícia,
encontre-os à porta rindo.
Agradeça a quem vem,
porque cada um foi enviado
como um guardião do além.
Listen now to the verses as they are read in this video: each one in English, then in Portuguese. It differs here and there with the version above.
(video by Timeless Teaching)
I tried to translate it in English. I wasn't satisfied at all with my rendering. Eventually I found a splendid English version on the net, by Coleman Barks, a man who, despite the lack of knowledge of Persian, has given great translations of Rumi's poems.
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
And here is in Romanian. I found it on a blog with a great name, Reflectii pe o frunza (Reflexions on a Leaf), and the blogpost had a great title, Esente de Rumi in Khartoum (Essences of Rumi, in Khartoum). I modified it a little.
Fiinta asta omeneasca este o casa de oaspeti
Iar fiecare dimineata e un nou venit
O bucurie, o-ntristare, o josnicie,
O priza de constiinta trecatoare,
Toate apar precum un oaspete neasteptat
Intampina-i si bucura-i pe toti!
Chiar pe-o gramada de pareri de rau
Ce-ti zguduie casa, de mobilele toate ti-o goleste
Si-atunci chiar, poarta-te frumos, ca-i oaspe
Si poate ca te va calauzi spre-o noua incantare
Gandul intunecat, rusinea, rautatea,
Intampina-le zambitor la usa
Razi, si invita-le 'nauntru
Fii recunoscator oricarui oaspete ce vine,
Caci e-un trimis,
Un sol de dincolo.
Iar fiecare dimineata e un nou venit
O bucurie, o-ntristare, o josnicie,
O priza de constiinta trecatoare,
Toate apar precum un oaspete neasteptat
Intampina-i si bucura-i pe toti!
Chiar pe-o gramada de pareri de rau
Ce-ti zguduie casa, de mobilele toate ti-o goleste
Si-atunci chiar, poarta-te frumos, ca-i oaspe
Si poate ca te va calauzi spre-o noua incantare
Gandul intunecat, rusinea, rautatea,
Intampina-le zambitor la usa
Razi, si invita-le 'nauntru
Fii recunoscator oricarui oaspete ce vine,
Caci e-un trimis,
Un sol de dincolo.
(Iranian Film and Poetry)
Labels: Iranian Film and Poetry, Rumi
posted by Pierre Radulescu at
12:50 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home