Work

I wrote a myriad verses, some are good, I’m told. Yet, my critics always find plenty in them to scold. For each of us these folks will find a scathing word. I have a friend:...

Opinions vary on what real love is worth, Great Heine thought it was a star that fell on earth. Yes, on earth, but in manure, in dirt it fell, Wrapping up the universe in slops...

The city of Kazan up on a hill is radiant like a torch, Tall as a candle is each mosque, minaret, and church. Kazan, your light shines forth for other towns so bright, Showing all...

Some things may sound quite funny in a poem of mine, And yet it speaks of suffering, of our curse’s sign. The tortures of my soul, indeed, they make me laugh, How long am I...

My soul, leave my body and go back to the skies, The era of spirit is gone, we live in dark times. I beg of you, do not accept this vile world again, O, Sun...

A poet has to know what songs he sings, His nation has a soul, and he must touch its strings. Life is hard, so his rhymes are filled with sadness, Forget your stupid jokes and...

Childhood in his memory a poet keeps, Everyone has a dream, both bitter and sweet. Holiday comes, I wish I were a child, to laugh and play, The eve of Garafa saw sadness swept away....

From America, potato, you’ve made your journey here, Enlightenment arrived from Europe, which is near. O, potato, at first you looked so odd and weird, People were prejudiced to you and thought you a ‘jadid’:*...

Winter, I pine in the village, hopelessly ill, In summer, peasants labored so hard, now all is still. I feel lazy too, taking a break with other men, Hoping come spring to be healthy again....

On this world you witnessed darkness fall, You had to find a spark, some lofty goal. Determined to succeed, no thought you had of rest, Marching courageously, passing every test.   What happened to you...