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Syndic Literary Journal

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.

 

Compiled/Published by LeRoy Chatfield
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