Muzdawidj

The following description is reposted with permission from The Poets Garret, with thanks to Kathy Anderson.

Muzdawidj

Persian poetry influenced other nations and whilst Turkish poetry also developed it was slightly later and influenced by Persian poetry and was popular in Turkey until the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

Early Urdu Mathnawi was at first religious in nature, but because of Persian influence included romance, and adventure and even secular stories.

The Arabic Mathnawi (Called Muzdawidj) has one major difference in that it is presented as a triplet; a. a. a. / b. b. b. / c. c. c.. pattern, rather than a couplet like the Persian version.

 

 

This Bitter Earth   It went to my head what you said yesterday And again the thoughts burn yet become doubts play For whenever hearts are involved I must pray. How goes these whispers into the heavenlies To evoke imaginative displays, please Me as much as the cello with bow glories. Charms take me away as do the words we speak, When there are clouds in our eyes they tend to leak For far gone days and flung desires bespeak. Kathy Anderson

 

See also: Mathnawi

Taxies

How familiar is that grand old checker cab
where passengers sometimes feel compelled to gab,
for like a barkeep, it’s covered by the tab.
Put tradition and romance off to the side,
Sometimes a taxi’s a must if you’re to ride.
Frequently it’s hard to find a better guide.

© Lawrencealot – February 21 2015