Monday, August 16, 2010

heart and absence


My heart has adopted every shape; it has become a pasture for a gazelles, and a convent for Christian monks.

A temple for idols, and a pilgrim's Ka'ba, The tables of a Torah, and the pages of a Koran.
I follow the religion of Love; wherever Love's camels turn, there Love is my religion and faith.


Ibn Arabi

piercing like the flight of the hawk
Love is my religion






Ωραιο χελιδονι μου πουθ' ερχεσαι και φτανεις ποια θαλασσα σε βγαζει με τουτον τον καλο καιρο; Εχεις ασπρο το στηθος εχεις μαυρα τα φτερα χρωμα θαλασσας στη ραχη λιγο την ουρα ανοιχτη Ρωτησα για τη μανα μου την πολυαγαπημενη τοσο καιρο με περιμενει τοσο εχει να με δει
Ρωτησα για τον κυρη μου κι ολη τη γειτονια και αν ειχες ομιλια ποσα θα χες να μου πεις Καθομαι μπρος στη θαλασσα παντα σενανε κοιτω λιγο γερνεις καστβαινεις λιγο αγγιζεις το νερο Μα συ τιποτα δε λες για ολ αυτα που σε ρωτω λιγο γερνεις, κατεβαινεις λιγο αγγιζεις το νερο

my beautiful swallow, where do you come from, where do you go
which sea brings you with this good weather
your breast is white, your feathers are black,
the colour of the sea on your back, your tail is forked
I asked my beloved mother, how long since she's seen me
so long waiting for me, waiting to see me

I asked my father and the whole neighbourhood
if you could speak, how much you would tell me
I sit before the sea. I look at you, you swoop a little, you come down a little, you touch the water.
But you never say anything about what I'm asking you, you swoop a little, you come down a little, you touch the water.


song from the Greek speaking peoples of Calabria

5 comments:

Zaina Anwar said...

I have always carried this verse by Ibn Arabi in my heart. I wish more people would understand it and weave its spirit into their lives. Thank you for sharing this with the world at large.

Manya Maratou said...

zaina, hi
this came to me this morning and it was like a gift. wanted to share.
the other song I thought of when the image of the hawk flying flashed in my minds eye, it;s title is "the cry of the immigrant"
where are you?

Harnett-Hargrove said...

What a beautiful verse and sentiment. I will now carry it, too. Thanks for the introduction. -J

Valerianna said...

mmmm... love the first video. And love the Ibn Arabi verse, I, too, will carry it with me now, thanks!

grace Forrest~Maestas said...

thank you, manya

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