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Elia Abu Madi's:A Worm and a Nightingale (Translation)
A nightingale was once detected flying high
by a crawling worm, who complained with a sigh:
'Why couldn't I wing' she moaned: 'Oh! Why couldn't I?'
'Be content", said a wise ant, "don't aim to fly'
'Why would you soar up, to be shot, to die?'
'When earth's a safer haven for you and me, don't aim for the sky'
'It's better to hush up and be content than naggingly keep asking, "why, why?'"
دودة وبلبل
نظرت دودة تدبّ على الأرض
إلى بلبل يطير ويصدح
فمضت تشتكي إلى الورق الساقط
في الحقل أنها لم تجنّح
فأتت نملة إليها وقالت
اقنعي واسكتي فما لك أصلح
ما تمنيت إذ تمنّيت إلا
أن تصيري طيرا يصاد ويذبح
فالزمي الارض فهي أحنى على الدود،
وخليّ الكلام فالصمت أريح
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More about Elia Abu Madi
https://www.poemhunter.com/elia-abu-madi/poems/
Hope you'd enjoy his translated works
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Jordan
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Comments
IRiz
Tue, 2018-09-04 22:48
What a delightful read.
What a delightful read.
Thank you for your wonderful translation
IRiz
Rula
Wed, 2018-09-05 08:08
Thank you dear
For your kind visit. Much appreciate your geniality.
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author commentraj
Wed, 2018-09-05 05:43
Hi Rula
words of wisdom captured nicely in the poem you translated...thanks for sharing...
......................................................................................
raj (sublime_ocean)
Rula
Wed, 2018-09-05 08:10
Thank you
dear raj. As this is a first real attempt to translate from Arabic to English, I am happy you could get the air of this one.
Always appreciate it.
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author commentgregwa8
Wed, 2018-09-05 23:31
wonderful!
wonderful!
Rula
Thu, 2018-09-06 02:45
Thank you
Greg!
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author commentgregwa8
Wed, 2018-09-05 23:32
by "fired" do you mean shot
by "fired" do you mean shot by a gun? if so that might be a better word choice: "shot". I couldn't say, having no knowledge of Arabic.
Rula
Thu, 2018-09-06 02:52
Appreciated as well
though fired is a synonym for the Arabic word "sly" يذبح yet I found 'shot' to be clearer for those who couldn't read the Arabic version.
Appreciate your feedback and the kind visit.
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author commentSparrow
Thu, 2018-09-06 03:48
Rula
Thank you for this lovely translation, please if you find more don't hesitate to send them to us, it opens another world of thought.
This seemed to be as a parable, or a little philosophy, wonder if there is something similar in Confucius's sayings.
Thank you young lady go well and know we walk with you..
Yours as always Ian .. x
.
Give critique to help keep Neopoet great.
Unconditional love to you all.
"Learn to love yourself first"
Yours as always, Ian.T, Sparrow, and Yenti
Rula
Thu, 2018-09-06 04:56
Many thanks
dear Ian. I am so happy to know that you have enjoyed the translation of this short tale of wisdom. I agree that other cultures are buried treasures until translated to our language.
I promise to do whenever time is available.
Highly appreciate your kind visit.
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author commentAlex Tanner
Mon, 2024-05-27 18:14
Hello Rula
I enjoyed reading this very much. Is it your own translation? However my wicked sense of humour wanted to add a couple of lines after the one that begins: " why would you soar up" along the lines of: " Better to stay grounded and be crushed by clumsy feet ". Sorry, i do apologise but I couldn't help it. Alex
Rula
Wed, 2024-05-29 13:08
Hello Alex Tanner
It's my pleasure that you have enjoyed this one. Yes, it's my translation though I am sure Ellie 's works have been translated to many languages, English should be one of them but I never had a chance to look into it.
I am also happy to see you had the joy adding those lines.
Thank you for visiting my page and adding to it.
Much appreciated
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author commentDalton
Fri, 2024-05-31 10:02
There’s nothing wrong with
There’s nothing wrong with the English language version of your poem. Has a strong Sufi feel. Love for creatures deemed lesser than ourselves. Also reminded me a little of the English mystic poet William Blake. If you’ve not read him I think you’d love to.
Rula
Fri, 2024-05-31 15:49
Thank you for sharing your thoughts
Dalton.
I read some of Blake's but would look into more of his works
Appreciate it
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author commentDalton
Fri, 2024-05-31 17:25
Dearest Rula
Auguries of Innocence is all about the care of animals and the Songs of Innocence and of Experience are his most accessible I think it’s worth the research