Quatrain 88 from Rubaiyat of Saadi Shirazi

By hamed @hamed | 7 3

نونیست کشیده عارض موزونشوآن خال معنبر نقطی بر نونش


نی خود دهنش چرا نگویم نقطیستخط دایره‌ای کشیده پیرامونش


Description:

English Translation:

Considering the rich imagery and cultural context, here are a few options for translating this quatrain into English:

Option 1: Literal translation with some poetic license:

Her face, a loaf of bread, so finely shaped,
A mole, a dark dot, on its surface draped.
Why not say her mouth's a dot as well?
Surrounded by a circle, perfect as a spell.

Option 2: More poetic and evocative translation:

Her cheek, a loaf of life, so sweet and fair,
A beauty mark, a dot, a jewel rare.
Her lips, a crimson circle, soft and deep,
A perfect oval, where sweet dreams do sleep.

Option 3: A more contemporary interpretation:

Her face, a canvas, painted pure and bright,
A mole, a dark star, shining in the night.
Her lips, a cupid's bow, so red and sweet,
A perfect oval, where lovers meet.


hamed
@hamed Oct. 2, 2024, 5:16 p.m.

Choosing the best translation depends on the specific context and the desired tone. The first option is more literal and emphasizes the food imagery. The second option is more poetic and evokes a sense of beauty and longing. The third option offers a more contemporary interpretation while still maintaining the original imagery.

Ultimately, the best translation is the one that captures the beauty, emotion, and cultural significance of the original Persian quatrain.

hamed
@hamed Oct. 2, 2024, 5:16 p.m.

Let's break down the imagery used in this quatrain:

نونیست کشیده عارض موزونش: This line refers to the beloved's face, comparing it to a loaf of bread (نان). The word "عارض" means "cheek" or "complexion," and "موزون" suggests a harmonious or balanced proportion. The implication is that the beloved's face is as beautiful and desirable as a perfectly baked loaf of bread.
وآن خال معنبر نقطی بر نونش: The "خال معنبر" is a dark mole, often considered a beauty mark. Here, it's compared to a dot on the loaf of bread.
نی خود دهنش چرا نگویم نقطیست: This line extends the food metaphor to the beloved's mouth, comparing it to another "dot" or "point."
خط دایره‌ای کشیده پیرامونش: This line describes the outline of the beloved's face as a perfect circle.

hamed
@hamed Oct. 2, 2024, 5:17 p.m.

Cultural and Historical Context:

This quatrain is a classic example of Persian poetry's use of simile and metaphor to describe beauty. The imagery of food and the beloved's face is a common theme in Persian love poetry, often used to convey the idea of longing and desire. The perfect circle, symbolizing unity and completeness, is also a recurring motif in Persian art and literature.