Persian Poems for Children
Translated by Keith Thomas
In the last issue of Peyk, we introduced you to a talented language enthusiast, Keith Thomas, who learned Persian during the COVID-19 pandemic using YouTube and other social media means. Thomas is mostly fascinated with Persian poetry and has been translating poems into English—not only classic and modern poetry, but also poems for children, which he translated and sent to us. With the exception of “Tavalod,” the most popular “birthday anthem” in Iran, the rest are what most Iranian children learn and recite in nursery, kindergarten, and elementary schools.
You will notice that Thomas is aware of the danger of translating poetry. He is faithful to the poems’ meanings and skillfully adheres to rhyme and rhythm. He wrote: “The following poems were selected by Ghazal Dastan and she contributed significantly to their translation. Since these types of poems are often accompanied by music when recited, the rhythm, meter, and rhyme scheme of the translations follow the originals as closely as possible.”
I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
—Ali Sadr
تولد، توالد، توالدت مبارک!
مبارک، مبارک، تولدت مبارک!
لبت شاد و دلت خوش، تو گل پرخنده باشی
بیا شمعا رو فوت کن، که صد سال زنده باشی
Here’s to you, here’s to you, a happy birthday to you!
Big congrats, big congrats, a happy birthday to you!
Your lips smile and your heart sings, like a radiant daisy
Candles lit, come blow them out, may you live a century!
سَلام مِدادِ زَردَم
بازَم نَقاشی کَردَم
آهای مِدادِ آبی
بیداری یا کِه خوابی
آسِموُنو آبی کُن
روُزِشِ آفتابی کُن
می خوام چَمَن بِکارَم
مِدادِشو نَدارَم
چَمَن کِه آبی رَنگ نیست
زَرد کِه باشِه قَشَنگ نیست
مِدادِ آبی و زَرد
بایَد بِهَم کُمَک کَرد
رَنگِ شُما هَر دو تا
میشِه یِه سبزِ زیبا
رَنگو روُ هَم بِذارید
اینجا چَمَن بِکارید
Hello my yellow pencil friend
I’ve gone and drawn a sketch again
Oh hey my blue pencil buddy
Nap time’s through so let’s get ready
While your color fills up the sky
Your friend tends to the sun up high
I’d like to plant grass on the ground
But the right color can’t be found
Use blue for grass? You surely jest!
And yellow grass is not the best
Blue and yellow, would you rather
Work alone or work together?
Now we’re a team this lovely scene
Has fields that gleam in pretty green
Add both your colors here until
That grass is planted on the hill
باران
اثر پروین دولت آبادی
اَبرِ سیاه اَبرِ سِفید
رو آسِمان پَردِه کِشید
بارانِ دانِه دانِه
ریخت رویِ حوُضِ خانِه
نِشَست رو بَرگِ گُل ها
رو غُنچِه هایِ زیبا
رو بُوتِه های گَندُم
رو خانِه هایِ مَردُم
بَرگِ دِرَخت را تَر کَرد
اَز شاخِه ها گُذَر کَرد
بارانِ دانِه دانِه
آمد رو بامِ خانِه
The Rain
by Parvin Dolat Abadi
Clouds rolled in, some black and some white
The sky was soon tucked out of sight
The rain came, fell drop by drop
Filling the homes’ pools to the top
Sitting on flower petals
On bonny buds it settles
On stalks of wheat it douses
On all the people’s houses
Giving a bath to trees’ leaves
As between branches it weaves
The rain came, fell drop by drop
Pattered down on the rooftop
آفتاب مهتاب
اثر پروین دولت آبادی
آفتاب مهتاب چه رنگه
چقدر هردو قشنگه
یکی روشنی روز
یکی نور شب افروز
یکی طلای زرده
یکی نقرۀ سرده
یکی پرتو خورشید
به روی خاک پاشید
یکی از ماه زیبا
بتابد بر همه جا
آفتاب مهتاب چه رنگه
چقدر هردو قشنگه
Sunlight, Moonlight
by Parvin Dolat Abadi
Sunlight, moonlight, each color
As pretty as the other
One provides the day with light
One illuminates the night
One is bright like yellow gold
One is silver, mellow, cold
A beam from the sun is bound
To splash down upon the ground
One sent by the lovely moon
All across the world is strewn
Sunlight, moonlight, each color
As pretty as the other
نسیم
اثر مصطفی رحماندوست
یک دوست دارم
که مهربان است
جایش همیشه
در آسمان است
او صورتم را
هی می کند ناز
یا توی گوشم
می خواند آواز
اسمش نسیم است
آرام و شاد است
بابای خوبش
آقای باد است
Breeze
by Mostafa Rahman Doost
I have got a friend
As kind as can be
Her home is the sky
She’s there eternally
Her soft gentle hand
Caresses my cheeks
My ears hear music
Every time she speaks
She’s calm and joyful
That’s why her name’s Breeze
Call her good father
Sir Wind if you please
صد دانه یاقوت
اثر مصطفی رحمان دوست
صد دانه یاقوت دسته به دسته
با نظم و ترتیب یک جا نشسته
هر دانه ای هست خوش رنگ و رخشان
قلب سفیدی در سینه آن
یاقوتها را پیچیده با هم
در پوششی نرم پروردگارم
هم ترش و شیرین هم آب دار است
سرخ است و زیبا نامش انار است
One Hundred Rubies
by Mostafa Rahman Doost
One hundred rubies, all packed in a group
Neatly arranged, they form one great troop
Crimson flushed, each one like the rest
An ivory heart beats in each grain’s chest
Gems tucked away, within a soft case
Placed by God’s hand, kept under his grace
Both sweet and sour, yet juicy all the same
Such splendid scarlet; pomegranate is its name
*The last two lines of this poem were switched to save the reveal of the pomegranate’s identity for the last line.
کتاب
شاعر: عباس یمینی شریف
مَن یارِ مِهرَبانَم. دانا و خوش بیانَم
گوُیَم سُخَن فَراوان با آنکِه بی زَبانَم
پَندَت دَهَم فَراوان مَن یارِ پَند دانَم
مَن دوُستیِ هُنرمَند. با سوُد و بی زیانَم
اَز مَن مَباش غافِل مَن یارِ مِهرَبانَم
Book
Poet: Abbas Yamini Sharif
I’m the friend who’s oh so nice
I’m both eloquent and wise
Countless tales without a voice
My silent words will suffice
I’ll guide you making a choice
I’m full of helpful advice
The artist’s loyal device
All virtue, none of the vice
So please don’t put me on ice
I’m the friend who’s oh so nice
خوشحال و شاد و خَندانَم
قَدرِ دُنیا رو میدانَم
خَندِه کُنم مَن دَست بِزَنَم
مَن پا بِکوُبَم؛ مَن شادانَم!
دَر دِلَم غَمی نَدارَم
زیرا هَست سلامَت جانَم
عُمرِ ما کوُتاست
چون گُلِ صَحراست!
پَس بیایید شادی کُنیم…
بیایید باهَم بِخوانیم
تَرانِه یِ مِهرَبانی…
عُمرِ ما کوُتاست
چون گُلِ صَحراست!
گُل بِریزَم مَن
اَز توُیِ دامَن
بَر روُیِ خَرمَن…
شادانَم…
I’m glad and grin from ear to ear
I cherish the world I hold dear
I laugh and clap for all to hear
I stomp my feet, for I’m full of cheer
My bright heart doesn’t shed a tear
Because my soul is free and clear
Life lasts just an hour
Like a desert flower
So come join me in rejoicing
Come join me and let us all sing
A melody kind and loving
Life lasts just an hour
Like a desert flower
The flowers I spread
Are strewn from my dress
Across the harvest
I am blessed
