Beauty

by Partaw Naderi

Your voice is like a girl
from the farthest green village 

whose tall and graceful frame
is known to the pine trees on the mountains

Your voice is like a girl
who, at dusk,

will bathe in the clear springs of heaven
beneath the parasol of the moon

who, at dawn,
bears home a jar of pure light

who will drink sip by sip
from the river of the sun

Your voice is like a girl
from the farthest green village

who wears an anklet
forged from the songs of a brook

who wears an earring
spun from the whispering rain

who wears a necklace
woven from the silk of a waterfall

all of which grace the garden of the sun
with their many-coloured blossoms of love -

and you
are as beautiful as your voice

September, 1994

The literal translation of this poem was made by Yama Yari

The final translated version of the poem is by Sarah Maguire

Comments

  1. February 20th, 2013 at 7:58 am

    jamaluddin dowladyaar says:

    i like all of his poem, junab partaw naderi is one of the first person for poem in afghanistan 

  2. February 5th, 2013 at 11:12 pm

    Kabir says:

    nice poems i like it

  3. May 12th, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    Ma Sheng says:

    I think it is easily discernible by native speakers of Dari and Farsi (which I am not) but I'd like to add that the title of the poem 'Zibâî' both means 'Beauty' and 'You are beautiful', which is marvelous, I think. It is also the last word of the poem, thus, the last word can also be translated as 'Beauty'. Great poem, indeed, just as Farzandeh Khojandi's and Ms. Toeti Heraty's poems.

  4. October 5th, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Ehsan Ulhaq Ziaiy says:

    I really enjoyed when I read your peom so do always the same Allah bless you

  5. July 23rd, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    Upal Deb says:

    These poems do have a different taste...transcend geo-politico-cultural barriers...Not much of Afghan poetry I have read.But these by Partaw inspire me to probe poetry of Afghanistan intensely.Romantic note adds to the poem's beauty...but this is not all.Underlying Romantic strains,Partaw's voice probes different spaces which might allow us to know the Afghan situation better.Green reminds me of Lorca.But Partaw must be known across the world.

  6. May 10th, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    Awais says:

    Wonderful...reminds me of 'A thousand Splendid Suns' by Shams Tabrizi..

  7. May 8th, 2010 at 12:34 am

    Ozair Haqjo says:

    Very nice = خیلی مقبول و زیبا

  8. May 6th, 2010 at 3:13 am

    nagapie says:

    Wow. It's stunning. Can't decide if I prefer reading it or hearing it. 

  9. March 23rd, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    Najib says:

    amazing!! love it.

  10. January 13th, 2010 at 4:15 am

    Sweeny says:

    Amazing piece. Very well writen. Would like to see the literal translation.

     

  11. November 25th, 2009 at 9:59 am

    hadi says:

    good


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