15 Saadi Shirazi Poems
The best Persian poet of all time, Saadi Shirazi (Persian:سعدی شیرازی), was born in Shiraz in the 13th century. He’s famous for being one of the most prominent Persian poets of the medieval era, and he’s well-known for his talent in communicating the most profound moral and social ideas in the most straightforward language for people of all ages. If you’re a literature enthusiast, you shouldn’t miss Persian literature, especially Saadi Shirazi poems. Scholars of Persian literature regard him as a “Master of Speech” and one of the finest poets of traditional Persian literature. Among all his works, Golestan (or Gulistan) and Bustan are two of his most notable works of literature. In this article, we will provide you with 15 Saadi Shirazi poems.
Saadi Shirazi Poems in English
His actual date of birth is unknown at this time. According to Saadi Shirazi poems, he left home to travel throughout the globe around 1225 A.H., which was about the time of the Mongol invasion of the Persian Empire. In Gulistan, written in 1258 A.H., he describes himself as a 50-year-old man who is still naive and uninformed about the world around him. According to some estimates, when he returned to his hometown of Shiraz, he was probably in his late forties. In 1231–60, Atabak Abubakr ibn Sa’d ibn Zangi, the Salghurid king of Fars, reigned in Shiraz, and the city was enjoying a period of relative peace. They not only welcomed Saadi but also the ruler admired Saadi Shirazi poems. Read this article to the end to get more familiar with Saadi Shirazi poems.
چنان به موی تو آشفته ام به بوی تو مست
که نیستم خبر از هر چه در دو عالم هست
Transcript:
Chenan be moye to ashofteham be boye to mast
Ke nistam khabar az harche dar do aalam ast!
English Translation:
(I am) lost in your hair, drunk in your hair’s smell
That I have forgotten about the world and the creatures in it!
من چرا دل به تو دادم که دلم می‌شکنی
یا چه کردم که نگه باز به من می نکنی
دل و جانم به تو مشغول و نظر در چپ و راست
تا ندانند حریفان که تو منظور منی
دیگران چون بروند از نظر از دل بروند
تو چنان در دل من رفته که جان در بدنی
Transcript:
Man chera del be to dadam ke delam mishekani
Ya che kardam ke negah baz be man nakoni
Del o janam be to mashghol o nazar dar chap o rast
Ta nadanand harifan ke to manzore mani
Digaran chon beravand az nazar az del beravand
To chenan dar dele man rafte ke jan dar baladi
English Translation:
Why have I given you my heart to let you break it?
What have I done that you ignore me?!
My heart and soul are constantly thinking about you
However; I look at you in secret
To hide you from foes!
Others are forgotten when they’re absent
But, you are so deep in my heart and soul!
دوست دارم که بپوشی رخ همچون قمرت
تا چو خورشید نبینند به هر بام و درت
جرم بیگانه نباشد که تو خود صورت خویش
گر در آیینه ببینی برود دل ز برت
Transcript:
Dost daram ke beposhi rokhe hamchon ghamarat
Ta cho khorshid nabinand be har bam o darat
Jorme bigane nabashad ke to khod sorate khish
Gar dar ayineh bebini beravad ze barat
English Translation:
I want you to cover your moon-like face
Don’t be as evident as the sun
Others are not guilty (when they fall in love with you.)
If you even look at yourself in the mirror, you will lose your mind!
هرگز وجود حاضر غایب شنیده ای
من در میان جمع و دلم جای دیگرست
Transcript:
Hargez vojode hazere ghayeb shenidehee?
Man dar miyane ja’m o delam jaye digar ast!
English Translation:
Have you ever heard of a present but an absent person?
That’s me! I am among others, but my heart is somewhere else!
از در درآمدی و من از خود به درشدم
گفتی کز این جهان به جهان دگر شدم
Transcript:
Az dar dar amadi o man az khod be dar shodam
Gofti kea z in jahan be jahane degar shodam
English Translation:
You came to me, and I was super delighted
As if I was in the seventh heaven!
Saadi Shirazi Poems About Love
As we mentioned before, two of Saadi’s most famous books are Gulistan and Bustan. Saadi finished writing Bustan in1257 A.H, which is entirely in verse. This book has 183 tales divided into ten chapters, each of which focuses on a different virtue such as justice, kindness, love, liberality, generosity, contentment, and happiness, as well as the ecstatic rituals of dervishes, all of which aim at helping everyone live a better and happier life—previously known as Saadi Nameh. It comprises roughly 4000 verses. Let’s continue reading Saadi Shirazi poems about love.
گفتم ببینمش مگرم درد اشتیاق
ساکن شود بدیدم و مشتاقتر شدم
تا رفتنش ببینم و گفتنش بشنوم
از پای تا به سر همه سمع و بصر شدم
Transcript:
Goftam bebinamash magaram dardeh eshtiyagh
Saken shavad bedidam o moshtaghtar shodam
Ta raftanash bebinam o goftanash beshenavam
Az pay ta be sar hame sam’ o basar shodam
English Translation:
I wished to see her to end the pain (of not seeing her for a long time)
I saw her; I became more enthusiastic!
I wanted to see and listen to her
Suddenly, all my body became eyes and ears!
او را خود التفات نبودش به صید من
من خویشتن اسیر کمند نظر شدم
Transcript:
Ou ra khod eltefat nabudash be seideh man
Man khishtan asire kamande nazar shodam
English Translation:
She wasn’t aware that she had trapped me
I myself fell in love with her capturing eyes!
ما همه چشمیم و تو نور ای صنم
چشم بد از روی تو دور ای صنم
روی مپوشان که بهشتی بود
هر که ببیند چو تو حور ای صنم
Transcript:
Ma hame cheshmim o to nor ey sanam
Cheshme bad az roye to dor ey sanam
Roy maphoshan ke beheshti bud
Har ke bebinad cho to hor ey sanam
English Translation:
We are all eyes, and you are light, O’ beautiful face
May the evil eyes be away from you
Don’t turn over face, O’ beautiful
Because, whoever looks at you, nymph face
Will be in heaven
گفتیم که عقل از همه کاری به درآید
بیچاره فروماند چو عشقش به سر افتاد
Transcript:
Goftim ke aghl az hame kar be dar ayad
Bichareh foro mand cho eshghash be sar oftad!
English Translation:
We thought the brain (wisdom) overcomes everything
Poor thing was all devastated when fell in love!
من از آن روز که دربند توام آزادم
پادشاهم که به دست تو اسیر افتادم
همه غم‌های جهان هیچ اثر می‌نکند
در من از بس که به دیدار عزیزت شادم
Transcript:
Man az aan ruz ke dar bande toam aazadam
Padeshaham ke be daste to asir oftadam
Hame ghamhaye jahan hich asar nakonad
Dar man az bas ke be didare azizat shadam
English Translation:
I have been free since the day I was confined in your eyes!
I am a king trapped in your love
No pain can affect me
Since I am delighted waiting to see you!
Saadi Shirazi Quotes
It’s noteworthy to mention that he finished writing Gulistan, his other famous book, in 1258 A.H., a year after writing Bustan. It is mostly in prose. It has eight chapters mainly regarding the kings’ morals, the dervishes’ conduct, advantages of contentment, quietness and talking at the correct time, love and youthfulness, fragility in old age, and education. It’s possible to find Saadi Shirazi poems in this book as well. In Persian literature, it’s one of the most outstanding prose masterpieces. In Gulistan, Saadi seeks to counsel people to live freely and to enhance the quality of their lives. It features numerous stories, pieces of wisdom, and quotes. It may depict the cultural and social circumstances of the society during the time of Saadi, too. We’ve read Saadi Shirazi poems so far now let’s know much more about his quotes.
سر گرگ باید هم اول برید
نه چون گوسفندان مردم درید
Transcript:
Sare gorg bayad aval borid
Na chon gosfandane mardom darid
English Translation:
Kill the wolf as soon as possible
Not when it slew all the sheep!
مبخشای بر هر کجا ظالمیست
که رحمت بر او جور بر عالمیست
Transcript:
Mabakhshay bar har koja zaalemist
Ke rahmat bar ou jor nar aalamist!
English Translation:
Don’t ever forgive the oppressors!
Because mercy over them is tremendous cruelty to all people!
نادان را به از خاموشی نیست و اگر این مصلحت بدانستی ، نادان نبودی
Transcript:
Nadan ra beh az khamoshi nist va agar in maslehat bedanesti, nadan nabudi!
English Translation:
The best thing for an ignorant person is to stay silent!
If he knew this secret, he wouldn’t be ignorant!
Saadi Shirazi Poems about Friendships
He’s well known as one of the best ghazal-writers of Persian poetry alongside Hafiz. Many experts consider the finest ghazals were written by Saadi and Hafiz. Saadi has nearly 700 ghazals, primarily with the essence of love and some with mystical teachings. You can find irony in Saadi Shirazi poems to depict and condemn the shortcomings and corruptions in the society of his day. Let’s continue reading Saadi Shirazi poems.
یارا بهشت صحبت یاران همدمست
دیدار یار نامتناسب ،جهنمست
نه هر که چشم و گوش و دهان دارد آدمیست
بس دیو را که صورت فرزند آدمست
Transcript:
Yara behesht, sohbate yarane hamdamast
Didare yare namotenaseb, jahanam ast
Na hark e chesh o gosh o dahan darad aadamist
Bas div ra ke sorate farzande aadamast!
English Translation:
Oh dear, talking with loved ones feels like heaven
Being with the wrong people is hell, indeed!
Note: Many Saadi Shirazi poems talk about the importance of choosing the right friends.
!چون دوست دشمن است، شکایت کجا بریم؟
Transcript:
Chon dost dushman ast, shekayat koja berim?!
English Translation:
To whom should I complain, when the friend is the foe?!
Conclusion
Saadi Shirazi poems provide a clear distinction between the spiritual and the mundane in life. Even the most ordinary individuals may benefit from his works since he attempts to depict life’s most profound truths in the most tangible contexts and in a language as near to conversational as feasible. In this article, you read 15 of the best Saadi Shirazi poems. Enjoy!
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