Dar Golestaneh by Shahram Nazeri

Poetry is an important part of Kurdish and Persian life. In these Iranic circles, poets are revered – almost like saints – and even the illiterate in the most desolate regions know ancient poems by heart. Poetry is not easy; it isn’t merely about creativity with words. Original and honest thoughts are necessary to write poems that truly penetrate the reader’s heart. Now imagine translating a legendary poet’s greatest poems to music. A true challenge, to say the least. There is one maestro in particular who succeeded in doing so: Shahram Nazeri, a legendary Kurdish tenor from Kermanshah, Iranian Kurdistan.

Shahram Nazeri was the first to translate Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī’s (or simply Rumi) poetry to music. He made this legendary 13th century Persian poet’s works accessible to a wide audience. But this entry isn’t about Rumi, it is about Nazeri’s amazing musical interpretation of Sohrab Sepehri’s ‘Dar Golestaneh’. This is among my most loved musical and poetic pieces, and how can it not be? How can one not fall in love with these heavenly words and sounds? I have included the original lyrics, transliteration, and translation below. Enjoy!

Dar Golestaneh, Pt. 3: T.12

زندگی خالی نیست

Zendegi xāli nist

Life is not desolate

–

مهربانی هست سیب هست ایمان هست

Mehrbāni hast, sib hast, imān hast

There is kindness, there are apples, there is faith

–

آری تا شقایق هست زندگی باید کرد

Āri, tā šaqāyeq hast zendegi bāyad kard

yes, so long as there are poppies [the flower] one must live

–

در دل من چیزی است مثل یک بیشه نور مثل خواب دم صبح

Dar del-e man ciz-i-st, mesl-e yek biše‌-ye nur, mesl-e xāb-e dam-e sobh

There is something in my heart, like a jungle of light, like an early morning dream

–

و چنان بی‌تابم که دلم می‌خواهد

va chonān bitāb-am ke del-am mi‌xāhad

and I am so impatient, that my heart wants me

–

بدوم تا ته دشت بروم تا سر کوه

Bedavam tā tah-e dašt, beravam tā sar-e kuh

to run to the end of the plain, to hike to the top of the mountain

–

دورها آوایی است که مرا می‌خواند

Durhā āvāyi-st ke ma-rā mi‌xānad

There is a voice, far away, calling me …