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Elia Abu Madi's:A Worm and a Nightingale (Translation)

A nightingale was once detected flying high
by a crawling worm, who complained with a sigh:
'Why couldn't I wing' she moaned: 'Oh! Why couldn't I?'
'Be content", said a wise ant, "don't aim to fly'
'Why would you soar up, to be shot, to die?'

'When earth's a safer haven for you and me, don't aim for the sky'
'It's better to hush up and be content than naggingly keep asking, why?'

دودة وبلبل

نظرت دودة تدبّ على الأرض
إلى بلبل يطير ويصدح
فمضت تشتكي إلى الورق الساقط
في الحقل أنها لم تجنّح
فأتت نملة إليها وقالت
اقنعي واسكتي فما لك أصلح
ما تمنيت إذ تمنّيت إلا
أن تصيري طيرا يصاد ويذبح
فالزمي الارض فهي أحنى على الدود،
وخليّ الكلام فالصمت أريح
               

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Comments

What a delightful read.
Thank you for your wonderful translation

IRiz

For your kind visit. Much appreciate your geniality.

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Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words
........Robert Frost☺

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author comment

words of wisdom captured nicely in the poem you translated...thanks for sharing...
......................................................................................

raj (sublime_ocean)

dear raj. As this is a first real attempt to translate from Arabic to English, I am happy you could get the air of this one.
Always appreciate it.

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words
........Robert Frost☺

Please follow me on Instagram
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author comment

wonderful!

Greg!

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words
........Robert Frost☺

Please follow me on Instagram
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author comment

by "fired" do you mean shot by a gun? if so that might be a better word choice: "shot". I couldn't say, having no knowledge of Arabic.

though fired is a synonym for the Arabic word "sly" يذبح yet I found 'shot' to be clearer for those who couldn't read the Arabic version.
Appreciate your feedback and the kind visit.

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words
........Robert Frost☺

Please follow me on Instagram
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author comment

Thank you for this lovely translation, please if you find more don't hesitate to send them to us, it opens another world of thought.
This seemed to be as a parable, or a little philosophy, wonder if there is something similar in Confucius's sayings.
Thank you young lady go well and know we walk with you..
Yours as always Ian .. x

.
Give critique to help keep Neopoet great.
Unconditional love to you all.
"Learn to love yourself first"
Yours as always, Ian.T, Sparrow, and Yenti

dear Ian. I am so happy to know that you have enjoyed the translation of this short tale of wisdom. I agree that other cultures are buried treasures until translated to our language.
I promise to do whenever time is available.
Highly appreciate your kind visit.

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words
........Robert Frost☺

Please follow me on Instagram
https://instagram.com/poetry.jo?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

author comment
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