Nesimi was a propagator and
leading theorist of Hurrufism, which emerged in Azerbaijan at the dawn of
the 15th century (a mystic pantheistic doctrine, the founder of which was
the Azerbaijani philosopher Fazlullah Naimi). After Naimi had been executed
by Tamerlane’s son, Miranshah, in 1394, Nasimi left Baku and went to Turkey.
Afterwards he went to Syria. For spreading Hurrufi ideas he was prosecuted
and jailed in 1417. According to contemporary chronicles, Nasimi spent the
last days of his life in the city of Halab(Aleppo). It is recorded that a
pupil of his declaimed one of Nasimi’s Persian ghazels in the street: To see
my face you need an eye that can perceive the True God. How can the eye that
is short-sighted see the face of God?. Hearing this the religious fanatics
arrested the youth and ordered him to name the author of the poem. In order
to save the life of Nesimi the youth said it was his own poem and he was
promptly sentenced to death. Learning of this, Nesimi went to the place of
execution and demanded the youth‘s release, saying that he himself was the
author. The religious fanatics resolved to flay Nesimi alive.
In his poems Nesimi summons man to know
himself and his own divine nature. He believed that only Man could grasp all
the secrets of Creation. Nesimi often calls human reason the cup of Djamshid
(in oriental mythology the legendary Iranian ruler Djamshid had a cup which,
when full of wine, showed all that was happening in the world). Nesimi’s
poetry is rooted in the social, political, and cultural development of the
of the countries of the Near and Middle East, and especially of Azerbaijan.
He raised to a new height the ideas of humanism in Oriental poetry. He
strove for man’s moral purity and taught norms of humanist morality.
Some passages from his ghazels
Both worlds within my compass come, but this world cannot compass
me.
An omnipresent pearl am I and both worlds cannot compass me.
Because in me both earth and heaven and Creation’s “BE!” were found,
Be silent! For there is no commentary can encompass me.
Both worlds are my inauguration. In your essence I begin.
So know me by this token, though a token cannot compass me.
Through doubt and surmise no one came to be a friend of God and Truth.
The man who honours God knows doubt and surmise cannot compass me.
Pay due regard to form, acknowledge content in the form, because
Body and soul I am, but soul and body cannot compass me.
I am both shell and pearl, the Doomsday scales, the bridge to Paradise.
With such a wealth of wares, this worldly counter cannot compass me.
I am “the hidden treasure” that is God. I am the open eyes.
I am the jewel of the mine. No sea or mine can compass me.
Without you neither world nor soul
is needed.
Once we have met, a parting is not needed.
Purer your moist lips are than springs of Heaven:
A drink of living water is not needed.
On my heart’s throne the grief you cause is sultan.
Two sultans in one country are not needed.
All flowers are but thorns if you are absent.
Without you rose and basil are not needed.
Come, you whose face is Paradise to lovers!
For Paradise without is not needed.
For one who drinks the wine of lover’s
meeting
The bane of parting is not sorely needed.
Nesimi shall not spurn a meeting with you,
But do not leave his sight! This is not needed.
Some rubaiyats
The cheeks of the ravishing bride, our
heart’s thief,
Are freshly plucked hyacinth, sweet-basil leaf.
If soul stirs a body there cannot be grief.
A soul that is in love finds in loved one relief.
The soul of the world is Adam, it is man.
Who does not respect him, short shall be his span.
The secret of all the universe go scan
Where God set a seal –upon the brow of man.
· Heresy and Islam are the same to lover’s eyes,
Like a prince the lover is wherever he abides…
He who views the Kaaba and the idol not as one,
Though advanced in years, is yet unready to be wise.
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Gazels Heresy and Islam are
the same to lover's eyes.
Like a prince the lover is wherever he abides.
Since in all the world the one you love can have no like,
By this token your beloved you shall recognize.
He who views the Kaaba and the idol not as one,
Though advanced in years, is yet unready to be wise.
You who tell my fortune, casting lots before my eyes,
Do not cast again! What you have forecast satisfies.
That poor man, who in pursuit of love prostrated lies,
With the name of King Khosrov the world shall eulogize.
Man of power, be not tempted by the world of wealth,
For it is of little worth. Such wealth you should despise.
Keep away and wash your hands of this unworthy world,
For its captive is the man whom riches tantalize.
You who love the countenance of Kaaba, with a prayer
Come to love's arena where with silk the wild thorn vies.
For the yearning lover pains of love are sweet to bear.
Anguish the beloved causes always gratifies.
He in whose direction the beloved casts her eyes
Insight gains-his name is the all-seeing one, the wise.
0 full moon, your beauty into tumult throws the skies.
Look up to the heavens and you'll see there groans and sighs.
It's for your sake Nesimi his being has renounced.
See with what majestic presence does the poor man rise!
**************************
From your lips, 0 love, the living waters
flow.
Ask the prophet Khizr and what life is you'll know.
0 how sweet and fine the flavour of your lips,
Lips as bright as coral with a ruby glow!
On your face did Truth this very day reveal
All the letters which are proof that it is so.
Who distinction makes between yourself and Truth
Is an ignoramus, nothing does he know.
Radiating light, the taper of your cheeks
Has again arisen like the moon aglow.
He who to your beauty did not homage pay
God on him the name of Satan did bestow.
This is a great feastday. 0 Nesimi, come,
Sacrifice your life! Your life you must forgo.
**************************
Followers of Truth, authentic was the
news:
He who knows himself possesses clearer views.
He who knows himself possesses also Truth,
He who does not know himself in sorrow rues.
You who dream of Truth, come here and be a man!
Ruby, coral be! To be black stone refuse!
If you would eternal happiness attain,
You must know why Hell has seven magnitudes;
Why they number eight-the gates of Paradise,
Four-the rivers that their waters there diffuse.
You must know the Tuba tree in Paradise
Did God make it barren, does it fruit produce;
How were Paradise's youths and maidens made;
What the notion "self-sufficient God" includes.
Kevser, Selsebil and water from the springs
Are a haven safe, devoid of guile or ruse.
What the meaning is of this, explain to me!
To this treasured secret let me have the clues.
What sweet honey is, and water, milk and wine
God has stated clearly: the Koran peruse.
You must know the origin of all these things.
If you're riot a devil, truth do not abuse!
Who remains in ignorance, he nothing knows.
Poorest of the poor-this name for him I choose.
Who true understanding of these secrets gains,
He rejects the world and wickedness eschews.
Pure he has become, himself the Truth become
And has learned that all was absolutely true.
Love, beloved, lover-all these three are friends.
Through the universe our presence we diffuse.
0 Nesimi, living water are your words.
Those who drink not of it are by shades confused.
Can a wild beast know the worth of life and soul?
Ask the prophet Khizr where living water moves.
**************************
For one who longs to meet you, soul and
world are not worth having.
For one who drinks from Kevser spring, this soul is not worth having.
Your love suffices lovers. Can asceticism help them?
For one who knows this bliss, that harm, the harm is not worth having.
For one who has beheld your face, 0 Paradise's garden,
The flowerbeds and halls of Paradise are not worth having.
For one who has a soul that lives-as God shall live-forever,
A mortal body serves no purpose. It is not worth having.
For one who contemplates your moon-face and your crescent eyebrows,
The sun at sundown and the moon aloft are not worth having.
For one who knows your secret heart-a pearl of human beauty,
The sea, a jewel mine, the universe are not worth having.
For men of moral greatness dreaming of your plane-tree figure,
The cypress growing idly in the field is not worth having.
The men of Truth with their own eyes saw fact become authentic.
For one who's gained the Truth, mistakes and doubts are not worth having.
Nesimi is found everywhere. He has no settled dwelling.
For one whom walls cannot contain, a home is not worth having.
**************************
Your dusky tresses breathing musk for both
worlds I shall not exchange.
Your brief kiss for a thousand pleasant lifetimes I shall not exchange.
Your eyes' dark glances are for me a testament and guarantee.
The secrets of the firm world for chimeras vain I'll not exchange.
My rival says: "Give me today's love! Take tomorrow for yourself!"
An hour spent with my love for a whole epoch I shall not exchange.
My soul has found a dwelling in her curls where love is in its place.
This dwelling for the whole of space and being I shall not exchange.
The joys and blessings of the world may be of use, but in the end
They do the lover harm-and good for evil I shall not exchange.
When my beloved spoke, there was no doubt she has a tiny mouth.
The witness of my eyes for supposition I shall not exchange.
0 you who have compared her figure to the plane and cypress tree,
The tree of Paradise for inert objects I shall not exchange.
0 you so loud in praise of pearls, who think the sapphire of great price,
The pearl I've found for scores of mines and oceans I shall not exchange.
Love's happening to a disciple seems hypocrisy and guile.
Accept this truth: I harm no one and hurt for hurt I'll not exchange.
Nesimi's words have an aroma sweet as the Messiah's breath.
So hold them dear! My words for a life gratis I shall not exchange.
**************************
The moon to take a crescent form your
sickle brows invite.
TIle blushing tint of the red rose your rosy cheeks excite.
So sweet the mouth is which great nature made for you at birth
That Heaven's spring is shy to see your lips so crystal-bright.
The crescent moon may draw its light reflected from the sun,
But look, the sun itself from your moon-face acquires its light!
Observe the wonderfully strange condition of your moles!
Don't ask a man who's unaware of this about his plight.
The tale your tresses tell is long, their secret is exact.
Your mole will give the answer if you doubt that this is right.
How fair her beauty and her face! My God their guardian be!
On seeing such perfection thought is disconcerted quite.
I burn in cruel flames. 0 sovereign, see what I endure!
I'm ill from all the torment that your moving lips excite.
Although her cruelty to me is bitter, I prefer
Her cruelty to any rival's honey of delight.
Though fate will not provide Nesimi with a shawl to wear,
He needs no shawl nor anybody's satin in his plight. |
