poetry

Youth

Written in Kazakh by Shakarim Qudaiberdiuly in 1879 Translated into English by Sabrina Jaszi, Mirgul Kali, and Ena Selimović in 2023

Diamond eyes, Nightingale’s song, A most unrivaled peri. A moon-like face, Moods butter-soft, And this made her different: Her mind river-wide, Sole lover of mine.

An houri divine, I searched for her. Her unmarred body, Willowy figure, Horsehair-thin waist, Immaculate limbs. An otherworldly girl Untouched by ill-wishes!

Eyes striking, Song flowing, She combs her silky hair. Your strength sapped, Soul wrung out, At her slightest glance. When girls allure, Boys will break.

Running like quicksilver, A darting fox, Your heart scatters. The sword falls, A swooping eagle Seizing its prey. Man has his wants, His surging desire.

Your face draining pale, Mind rattling, Going distances for her. Tiring out horses, Shirking duties, Chasing revelry. Shameless fool, Ripping out your soul for her.

White horse, pale grass, Wearing darkness, Eluding sight, Seeking your true love, Offering your heart, With cunning friend beside you, Journeying to a distant aul. A peregrine taking flight.

Circling the aul, Stalking its edges, Not daring to cross, Peering from on high, Heart pumping, Restless upon the earth. Tell your friend, Go see, Bring me her word.

Your friend slips away, Soundless, unfeeling, A gray snake slithering. An eye’s blink Brings him back Grinning like a merlin. I wish your wish be granted, she said. Be he man, let him approach, she said.

Nothing more to fear. Clothes becoming light, Reeling like a spindle, Treading cautiously, Watching closely, A cat near a mouse. Melting through the door, Or through a crack, a hole.

Into the white yurt, Joints giving way, You draw nearer to truelove. Groping walls, Feeling for her bed, You touch her face, And your mind fades, soul remains, She knows.

Hand finding yours, Arms encircling you, Your lips graze her white neck. Body like sap, Unloosing your tongue. Mind dimming, all shadow. Oh, heavens, heavens. Who could possess their senses?

Gathering yourself, Smelling her, kissing her, Spirit still swirling, But you get your wish, A morsel of flesh, Diving like a peregrine, Dreams made real,
You lie smiling on her chest.

Dawn rushing in, Growing cold in our bodies, You wonder, when again? So, truelove, goodbye, Wait however long. Come soon, she pleads, I’ll die. The dawn’s so short! you say. Is that your only sorrow?

Dawn betrays you, Becoming lighter, No use being idle.
It’s time, you say. Nothing to be done. Pull yourself away. Stay, and dawn drives you out. Go, and truelove holds tight.

Leaving the white yurt, Stealing up the hill, Truelove in step Walking you away. The aul at your back, You cry to her, Banished by dawn. No tricks against the light.

Reaching the pass, Casting one last glance: She stands there still. Your friend will wait, Gripping the reins, While you run to her, Kiss her treasured neck, Brace for a difficult crossing.