by Abu Nuwas, translated from the Arabic by Alex Rowell
Pay no heed to puritanical talk
And drink of a northern-breeze-chilled rose
Red wine, pure, proffering its scent
Musk, with a hint of apple on the nose
Were it to fill the depths of a glass
It would beam as a lantern glows
I pour again for my love, and kiss him
Under night draped in monastic robes
Till he sings, with head inclined:
“O for the Hanna Monastery groves”[1]Much of the wine in Abu Nuwas’ time (c. 800 AD) was sourced from Christian (and Jewish) vintners, who were able to cultivate orchards on church land. “Hanna Monastery” was one of many mentioned … Continue reading
لا تَحفِلنَّ بِقَولِ الزاجِرِ اللاحي
واشرَبْ على الوَردِ مِن مَشمولةِ الراحِ
صهباءُ صافيةٌ تُجديكَ نكهتها
تنفُّسَ المِسكِ ملطوخاً بِتفّاحِ
حتي إذا سُلسِلتْ في قَعرِ باطيةٍ
أغناكَ لألائُها عن ضوءِ مِصباحِ
ما زلتُ أسقي حبيبي ثُمَّ ألثُمُهُ
والليلُ مُلتحِفٌ في ثَوبِ أمساحِ
حتى تَغَنَّى وَقَد مالتْ سَوالِفُهُ
يا ديرَ حَنَّةَ مِن ذاتِ الأكيراحِ
Alex Rowell
Alex Rowell is a Beirut-based reporter on political and cultural affairs for NOW Lebanon. His writing has also been published in outlets including BBC, the Economist, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Left Foot Forward, and the UK National Secular Society. He has spoken on HuffPost Live TV and BBC World Service and Monocle 24 radio. He is completing a book-length rhyming translation of the khamriyyat, or wine poetry, of Abu Nuwas. He tweets at @disgraceofgod.
Footnotes:
| ↑1 | Much of the wine in Abu Nuwas’ time (c. 800 AD) was sourced from Christian (and Jewish) vintners, who were able to cultivate orchards on church land. “Hanna Monastery” was one of many mentioned by the poet in this connection. |
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