Work
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Gabdulla Tukay Kitap
In those moments when my spirit is low, I hate myself, I feel nothing but sorrow. With pangs of remorse I look for a place, Where I could peace and comfort embrace. I’m in a total void, miserable and...
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Gabdulla Tukay To a Child
Shurales and genies – there is nothing to fear, They are not for real, they’ll never appear. In old times people believed in shurales, But we know now those were just folk tales. For imaginary ghosts...
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Gabdulla Tukay Birds
Foolish birds, let me staunch your fear, No need to panic while I’m standing near. I enjoy the language of these birds, Lord has made them sing without words. Sing your tunes, don’t fly away or run,...
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Gabdulla Tukay To Guria (Heavenly Nymph)
In heaven, if I chance upon your face In it, I’ll see my own reflection’s trace. I know that you beguile and charm, Entrance, envelop, and disarm. Your beauty is the heavens’ art Celestial grace in e...
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Gabdulla Tukay Get Rid of Gold!
Allah, God Almighty, let gold be cursed, Of all the earthly evils this one is the worst. Call for your archangels, whom you have to tell That this yellow metal belongs in hell. All the yellow shaitan...
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Gabdulla Tukay From Byron
A year from now, you’ll chance upon this verse, You’ll see, perhaps, this sad song run its course And ponder how the poet must have yearned To give his heart for you, he must have burned. Though stra...
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Gabdulla Tukay The Swallow
A swallow by my window is building a nest, Carrying branches for it, not knowing rest. She endlessly brings twigs of wood and clay, Putting love and hard work in it day after day. So her house now lo...
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Gabdulla Tukay To Your Portrait
I look and worship these dark brows and eyes, Praised be the artist who drew her so nice. He ordered the sun to pour gold on her hair, No other beauty to her can compare. Forgive me, dear sun, for yo...
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Gabdulla Tukay Evening in Winter
I like to watch the kids on winter nights at home, The house is warm, they’re sitting by the stove. The kids are joyful, one next to the other, And nothing makes them sad and nothing seems to bother...
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Gabdulla Tukay My Will
My soul, you finally rested, so answer my call. Allah awaits you once and for all. Time has come to look death in the eyes. Just one last request to all my friends: “Let mullahs read my verses when m...
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Gabdulla Tukay In Allah You Should Trust
My innocent child, you’re sinless, and just, Allah, the Lord, is the One you should trust. No one is as merciful, as our Lord, He will light up your path in this world. He is so generous, forgiving a...
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Poet
Time will pass, I will age and grow old, Hunched, enfeebled and nearly bald. But my soul will stay young, it will never surrender While I nurture the flames of passion and anger. They give me strengt...
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Gabdulla Tukay A Mother’s Prayer
The effervescent moon over the village rises. Night. Painting the houses silver, bathing fields in light. The people sleep. You cannot hear a peep. They worked from dawn to dusk; their sleep is sweet...
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Gabdulla Tukay When Moscow Reins You in
Haji, your hardships will begin, When Moscow starts to rein you in. When they start getting hard on you, What are you going to do? You thought of yourself as rich and tough, Whatever you had it was n...
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Gabdulla Tukay A Mouse That Fell in a Bowl of Milk…
(from an American newspaper) I don’t know how or why, but this I’m told, A little caged mouse fell in a bowl Of milk, swam back and forth, could not escape, The milk was liquid, drowning was...
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