How beautiful to see that timeless poetry and literary classics preserve their relevance across generations. How awe-inspiring that they transcend all nationalities, religions, ethnicity and apply to our life today. How extraordinary that such wisdom usually comes to us from the sages who have suffered greatly in their life. How fortunate for us that such forethought and wisdom was not all lost at the hands of humanity and survives still today.
I am convinced that the age at which we are introduced to the literature of our culture in school is never mature enough for us to either grasp or appreciate its depth and beauty. For that reason alone, a revisit can often take us by surprise. We see new layers that were hidden to our young innocent vision of the world and we are left awe-struck at discovering the quiet truths, the subtle messages, the timeless beauty of a classic. Yet there is an inexplicable quality to remembering our exposure to a favorite novel or a beloved poem at that young tender age.
Here in our second audio podcast, I explore these thoughts as I reflect on my most favorite poem as a child, one we had to memorize by a brilliant 13th century Persian poet, Sa’adi.
Second Podcast at Prolific Living:
Translation and the Reading (in Farsi) of a Poem by Sa’adi
Podcast Length: 7 min 30sec.
If you are on a mobile device, click here to listen.
The original photos are from Farsi Calligraphy, with thanks to the author of the post for their use. The graphic design is by Prolific Living.
Share your Takeaways:
Thank you so much for your incredible support with the first podcast. I worked hard to incorporate as many of the suggestions as possible for this second one. Whatever remains or whatever new suggestions you may have, rest assured I will be working on them until the podcasts are smooth and of highest quality. Technicality aside, I love to know your thoughts on the poem, the translation and the reading.
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{ 24 brilliant comments, Care to add another? }
Sa’adi (as well as Firdosi and Hafiz) are simply awesome, and they inspired legions of poets, who came after them, like Mir and Ghalib (considered the masters of Urdu poetry in sub-continent). Persian poets had a huge influence on the Urdu poets and they borrowed from Sa-adi and Hafiz many Persian words , concepts and phrases (tara’keeb). Gulistan-e-Sa’adi is a classic poetry book of the master.
Being a published poet (in Urdu) myself, I have to say Thank You for bringing Sa’adi to me again.
The only thing is that the real beauty of what Sa’adi said in Persian can not be translated. One has to know Persian (at least to some extent) to really appreciate the beauty of the way Sa’adi crafted his “misras”!
The most interesting part of this podcast, for me, was you reciting the poem in Farsi.
Abubakar, I finally struck a chord with you – and it was not on the subject I had anticipated so all the better – I am so happy to meet another poet and another person who can appreciate the classical Persian poetry – thank you for making me very happy with your comments here – and adding on to the original post. Glad you enjoyed my Farsi too. I had a lot of practice
!
Did I remember to tell you that my yoga teacher used in class a quotation from Sa’di that I passed on to him? What a joy, for many reasons, to hear your reading of the poem! Thank you for the lovely podcast, including the calligraphy and the little ant.
Dear Rebekah, so unusual to hear a yoga teacher choose Sa’adi and yet so remarkable. I may have to come back to Franklin Yoga more often! I knew you would enjoy not just hearing me recite in Farsi but also, hopefully, my tribute to you as my dear friend who appreciates Persian literature like no other I have ever met!
What a treat to hear your voice Farnoosh. I missed the first podcast due to busy-ness but will go back to it soon. However, this is wonderful – your introduction, your English translation and your beautiful reading in Farsi. Good on you for keeping up your culture and language.
Dear Sue, the podcast will be there indefinitely so no hurry – I am so happy you enjoyed the reading – I was proud to be able to still recite Sa’adi, even after forgetting as much a I have from my Farsi. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Sue!
Hi Farnoosh, this is a priceless gift. It is always wonderful to hear someone speak in their mother tongue. I also appreciate YOUR interpretation of the poem which I felt far richer than the more restraint official translations.
You were really intending to give us as much a flavor of your language, of the poets and their wisdom and that came through. Thank you, xox Wilma
Hi Wilma, so so happy you enjoyed the podcast – I am so happy you liked my bold interpretation – even though Sir Williams Jones did a good job too. I forget poetry’s richness until I return to it and then wonder how I can leave something like this behind. It was good for me too. Thank you for your comment.
Farnoosh:
Great audio post. It was really nice to hear your thoughts and I thought your translation was really good. Thanks so much for sharing it. I also thought what you said about always appreciating things about your heritage was really important. There are so many dimensions to who we are and every aspect has special importance that we should always value. I can definitely see that you value yours and thank you for sharing it with us.
Hi Sibyl, you are most welcome. I used to not always appreciate my heritage (youth, immaturity, so much else) but now I am happy to embrace it – and yet I don’t think one aspect of it defines me. Just like you say, so many dimensions to who we are and every single aspect is important. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on something that meant a great deal to me in preparing.
Wonderful message Farnoosh and an amazing podcast quality. Such a rich tone and amazing presence in your voice.
I’m hooked on your podcasts! Wow simply wow!
Your passion and thirst for amazing literature is contagious.
Much love and light my friend.
My coach and guide on the podcasts, thank you for listening, Tony – I took all your advice and now you may find this funny – my husband listened to it so much more carefully after your wonderful feedback on the last one and had much room for me to improve on this too – no matter, I am so so happy that you enjoyed it. Thank you for listening my friend. More podcasts I shall make if only for one wonderful listener!
Farnoosh jan – I enjoyed the podcast very much! Your recitiation of Farsi was beautiful and you did an amazing job explaining your admiration for Sa’adi. I listened to this podcast at a perfect time; I was just given the gift of Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat by a friend. My friend is not of Persian heritage nor does he speak Farsi (in fact, he is from a small town in Kentucky with pretty much no diversity). However, his father use to read to him poems by Omar. I am now even more excited to devour the Rubaiyat! Thank you!!
Negar jan, Andy’s father gave me Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat and would you believe I have not yet read it. It was at least 5 years ago. Let’s read it together. I may even dedicate another podcast to Persian culture and you can keep me honest where Rubaiyat is concerned. Thanks for leaving a comment. You made my day by sharing our Persian culture’s heritage!
That is awesome! Yes, let’s for sure read it together. I am almost done with another book I am currently reading. I can start this book by next week. So excited!
Negar, you are on, dear! I will start flipping through it next week too but Dumas still has priority til I finish Count of Monte Cristo – 14% left! Tic Toc
!
Farnoosh jan, I did subscribe to your website today after long time of knowing about your splendid website. What really motivated me this time was your podcast section. I downloaded the one and will listen to it next day morning. Speaking of Omar Khayyam here in your comments, I thought of this, to share you here “one action always brings about a reaction and as soon as it is done the ripple effect begins. As Omar Khayyam said The Moving Finger writes, and having writ moves on and nor all thy piety or wit shall lure it back to cancel half a line nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.” From Why Good People Do Bad Things | John Assaraf
Dear Amir, I saw your subscription come through. I am so glad to have you as a reader -and especially glad that you enjoyed the podcasts. I am thinking of creating a lot more in the future and it’s great to know that there is interest from my readers. Well, the Omar Khayyam quote is beautiful, timeless and priceless, just as Persian literature always is and has been. Thanks a million for sharing this here with all of us. Hope to see you again soon, Amir!
Believe or not, I burst into tears as you went to the end of podcast, with such a delicate and subtle melody. When it comes to music, I am very manic with detail…sigh… guess what? I have been listening to the song samples of Yanni’s first instrumental studio album since 2003′s Ethnicity. I love them. You are lucky being able to visit him in 2011.
Dear Amir, I believe it. The powers of our childhood dreams and memories are profound. This poem does this to me every time. Now which Yanni event are you referring to? I will not be seeing him to my knowledge but now I am curious. He is quite the musician. Thanks so much for your comment!
Thank you Farnoosh.
I refer to Yanni’s upcoming concert tour in 2011. For instance, look at this event: Yanni
Thanks Amir….I like Yanni but I doubt I can make his concert either so you and I are now sharing the same boat
!
az podcast e “Tribute to Persian Poet: Sa’adi” kheyli mamnoonam ! :] I was searching for podcasts in Farsi, since I learn the language, and happily came upon yours. If it’s your desire to do so, I look forward to listening to similar podcasts over Persian litereature and poetry in the future! moafagh baashy!
Dear Aaron, salam va kheili mamnoon- man kheili khoshal hastam ke podcast-eh man ra shoma lezat bordin.
Thank you so much. Can you read what I wrote up there? You are very very kind, Aaron. Believe it or not, I am starting a few podcasts on iTunes in the next coming weeks so check the blog or sign up for the newsletter to stay tuned in and a million thanks.
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