Quatrain 52 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi
دانی که چرا بر دهنم راز آمدمرغ دلم از درون به پرواز آمد؟
از من نه عجب که هاون رویینتناز یار جفا دید و به آواز آمد
Description:
English Translation:
Do you know why my secret has come to my lips,
And my heart’s bird has taken flight from within?
Don’t be surprised if an iron mortar,
Having suffered injustice from a lover, begins to cry out.
Analysis:
This quatrain by Saadi Shirazi explores the theme of unrequited love and the emotional turmoil it can cause. Let's break down the lines:
Line 1: دانی که چرا بر دهنم راز آمد
"Do you know why my secret has come to my lips,"
The speaker is asking a rhetorical question, implying that the reason for their revelation is obvious.
Line 2: مرغ دلم از درون به پرواز آمد؟
"And my heart’s bird has taken flight from within?"
This line uses a beautiful metaphor to describe the speaker's emotional state. The "bird of the heart" taking flight symbolizes the escaping of their emotions and secrets.
Line 3: از من نه عجب که هاون رویینتن
"Don’t be surprised if an iron mortar,"
This line introduces a striking metaphor: an iron mortar, a sturdy and inanimate object, is given human qualities.
Line 4: از یار جفا دید و به آواز آمد
"Having suffered injustice from a lover, begins to cry out."
The iron mortar, despite its hardness, can't withstand the pain of injustice, just as the speaker can't bear the pain of unrequited love.
Deeper Meaning:
This quatrain suggests that:
Love can break even the strongest: The iron mortar, a symbol of strength and durability, is broken by love.
The heart can't hide pain forever: The speaker's secret, held within their heart, eventually bursts out.
Unrequited love is painful: The speaker's suffering is so intense that even an inanimate object can empathize.