Translating Nasimi
Written by Dmytro Chystiak
Translated from the Ukrainian by Michael Pursglove
Narrated by Sultan Catto
A broken night
Has burned the tongue.
He tore out his heart,
And sung with the birds,
Returned with breath,
And watered with dew –
And the dawn has come
On the merchant’s throat.
He covered his head
From the prophet’s blood,
From the names and signs
Which lit up the day.
The kin almost withered
In its own blindness.
Numbers’ origin
Is in unity.
After the nine months
All the worlds unite,
Looking all to lean
On one and the same son.
The bowl opens
For lips in a battle.
The rough and grey fur
Will overcome death.
Get rid of the head stone!
Tear off the black shroud!
The white in a dance
Is a rapid star.