Middle East 4 ChangeA Moon-Lit Night: a poem by Ahmad Shamlu
Translated by Sheida Dayani
On a Moon-Lit Night
On a moon-lit night
Moon is in my dream
It takes me with it
Alley to alley,
Into the vineyards
Into the plum trees.
Valley to valley
Meadow to meadow
Behind the thickets
Where a night fairy
Fearing and trembling
Steps into the spring;
Her unruly hair
She begins combing…
On a moon-lit night
Moon is in my dream
It takes me to the
End of that valley
Where at night, the sole
Weeping willow tree
With her grace and charm
Stretches out her hand
So that drips a star
Like a raining drop,
Hanging from her branch
Instead of her crop…
On a moon-lit night
Moon is in my dream
It takes me with it
Out of the prison
Like a little moth
Into the dark night.
It takes me where the
Martyrs of the town
With lanterns of blood *
In the squares and streets
Cry until the dawn:
“Hey! Mr. Uncle!
Mr. vengeful man!
Are you drunk or dry?!
Wakened or asleep?!”
We are drunk and not
Martyrs of our town!
Asleep and awake
Martyrs of our town!
In the end one night
Moon will be rising
Over that mountain
Over the valley
And into the square,
Passing happily.
One night moon will come…
One night moon will come…
(1973-74)
* In Persian literary and mystic traditions, butterflies and moths are in love with light, flames, and candles. They find their way to the source of light, and wander around it until they catch fire. Here, Shamlou indicates that the blood lanterns of the martyrs are the emancipating light that stimulate sacrifice.
Image: Shamlou (1925-2000). Image from Wikipedia]
[Translated from the Persian by Sheida Dayani]Posted on Jadaliyya