A Promise Fulfilled

My original translation of a Persian ghazal.

I purchased the above book in December 2019, barely 2 months into my sojourn in Iran. There was a book fair at the Persian language institute that I was based at, and with the extremely low prices of books (thank you crippling sanctions!), and my extreme love for Fayḍ Kāshānī (famous Safavid era polymath), I decided to purchase an anthology of his love poetry.

At the time I could barely read the words, as I was still in the beginner phase of language acquisition. But I made a promise to myself: one day I would learn Persian to a degree that I would be able to understand and translate his poetry. At the time it seemed a far distant dream, and even now I still consider myself a novice in Persian poetry. But now, with a sense of pride, I present — what is to the best of my knowledge — the first English translation of Fayḍ Kāshānī’s poem ‘Concealed,’ the culmination of a promise fulfilled.

پنهان  (Concealed)


آنچه را از بهر من او خواست آن آيد مرا
خواستش از راز پنهان ناكهان آيد مرا

All that He destined for my sake;
that will surely reach me

Emerging from hidden secrets,
all at once will reach me.


سعى در تحصيل دنيا وفضولش بيهده است
در ازل قدرى كه روزى شد همان آيد مرا

Toiling to gain the world, with all
its excess rendered futile

The destiny fixed from a time
before time shall reach me.


سوى مشرق كر روم یا راه مغرب بسيرم
برجبينم آنچه بنوشته است آن آيد مرا

Whether I travel to the East,
or roam through Western lands

That which is inscribed upon my
scroll of fate shall reach me.


بر سرم كَرچه نميدانم چه خواهد آمدن
اينقدر دائم كه مردن بى امان آيد مرا

Though I am ignorant of what 
the vast future portends

I know that death, unrelenting
and stubborn, will reach me.


هيج تمهيدى نكردم بهر مهمان اجل
با وجود آنكه دائم ناكهان آيد مرا

I have made no preparations
for death, that fateful guest

For I know that all in a flash
it will surely reach me.


زندكانى شد تلف سودى نيامد زان بكف
نيست از كس شكوه ام از خود زيان آيد مرا

Though life has withered and wasted,
with no profit accrued

I blame no one, for from myself
this loss will soon reach me.


هر كه خيرى ميكند اضعاف آن يابد جزا
ميدهم جان در رهش تا جان جان آيد مرا

He who does good will surely find 
his reward multiplied

I give my life for Him so that the
soul of souls will reach me.


هر كه بخشد جرمى از كس بكذرند ازجرم أو
ميكنم من اينچنين تا آنچنان آيد مرا

He who forgives others’ wrongs will
also be forgiven 

I forgive all others so that
forgiveness will reach me.


هر كه بر تن ميفزايد نور جان كم ميكند
ميكذارم فيض تن تا نور جان آيد مرا

He who swells his body weakens
his soul’s radiant glow

I leave off desires so that
my soul’s light will reach me.

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