Haft Seen
If it weren't for the clouds,
I could
pick the stars
one by one
from this brief sky,
hang them
in your ever ruffled hair
and hear
you saying:
‘I'm like a silk rug -
the older it gets,
the lovelier it grows,
even if
two or three naughty kids
did pee on it.'
Have I arrived yet?
Then let me spread
the Haft Seen tablecloth
in the middle of Dam Platz.
Even if it rains,
The Unknown Soldier
and a flock of pigeons
will be my guests.
The literal translation of this poem was made by Zuzanna Olszewska
The final translated version of the poem is by Mimi Khalvati
Notes
Haft Seen: traditional display of seven symbolic items beginning with the letter ‘s', prepared for the New Year festival of Now Ruz.
Dam Platz: historical square in Amsterdam flanked by the Royal Palace and the National Memorial to the Dutch war dead.
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© Poetry Translation Centre 2004-2013
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