ترنج [Toranj] [English translation]

“Where do you come from”, they questioned, “that you seem so disturbed”?

“A stranger from the city of the acquainted”, I replied

“What is on your mind”, they questioned, “to make you lose your mind”?

“Begging your love”, I replied, “tis the only thing on my mind”

“What breed of bird are you”, they questioned, “that such a melody you sing”?

“A cheerful tone from the garden of the forlorn”, I replied

“Get drunk”, they urged, “so that you may from all be free”!

“With wine indeed”, I replied, “with wine I fond my salvation from me”

“You’d not be worth a whit tho”, they cautioned, “if you’d seek abstinence or repentance”

“I’ve repented of abstinence and piety”, I replied

“How do you hold our art of allure”, they questioned?

“Like a deluge of flowers in the banquet of coquetry”, I replied

“I am the Bergamot Orange”, they said, “which befits not this world”

“Even better art thou”, I replied, “yet unattainable”

“Why then so little of your sweet amour”, they questioned?

“Intoxicated with love”, I replied, “that is why”

“What does Khwaju see in our eyes”, they questioned?

“The tale of the drunken is a divine enigma”, I replied!

• Artist:Mohsen Namjoo