Here-some better PR close friends, family members and students of family members. You don't have to watch but I feel highly indebted to post it. Please don't judge us on the few.
The poem is about being spurned by someone/thing that you love, being made to travel the earth and being willing to be slaughtered for that love.
Last but not least the voice of a woman that I owe much to and miss.
Here's an attempt at translation but generally much that is written in Iranian poetry is in riddle form making it difficult to translate, so I'm guessing at the connotations
Our backyard hedges in an abundance of sweet fruits
گل و چشمه و آهو ، لاله و نسرین داره
With blooms, streams, deer, tulips & jonquils
فلفل نبین چه ریزه ، بشکن ببین چه تیزه
refrain:
Don’t be fooled by the size of pepper corn, break it and you know it is sharp
پرچینش صد فرسنگه ، ابرش هزارون رنگه
The hedges run for thousands of miles, with clouds displaying a thousand colours
هم بارون نم نمش ، هم توفانش قشنگه
Beautiful, even in drizzle and storms
فلفل نبین چه ریزه ، بشکن ببین چه تیزه
Don’t be fooled by the size of pepper corn, break it and you know it is sharp
باغ ما بارون داره ، باد گل افشون داره
It rains in our backyard, drenching winds nurture the blooms.
سهند قدبلندش ، چشم زرافشون داره
The Sahand (
Tabriz mountain range) is tall and its eyes shine like jewels
فلفل نبین چه ریزه ، بشکن ببین چه تیزه
Don’t be fooled by the size of pepper corn, break it and you know it is sharp
پر از سرو بلنده ، یال اسبش کمنده
Blanketed by tall pine trees, running with the flowing manes of horses
هشتی داره باغ ما ، ایوونش دماونده
Our backyard has a courtyard, its veranda is Damavand (
highest mountain Alborz range-elevation approx 5,500m)
فلفل نبین چه ریزه ، بشکن ببین چه تیزه
Don’t be fooled by the size of pepper corn, break it and you know it is sharp
باغ ما گلشن داره ، سایه و روشن داره
Our backyard has flower-gardens, shade and sun
خاره سنگ البرزش ، صد جور آویشن داره
Thorns on Albourz rocks contain a hundreds of types of thyme. (
Iranian thyme has antibacterial and courage giving powers)
فلفل نبین چه ریزه ، بشکن ببین چه تیزه
Don’t be fooled by the size of pepper corn, break it and you know it is sharp
سه گله ش برف و بارون ، یه گله ش آتیشبارون
Three of its flowers- snow, rain and the other works of fire.
کویرش خار و شوره س ، گیلانش شالی کارون
Its desert is prickly and salty (
Again the power to heal can be found within), in Gilan (
province) rice paddies stretch till Karoon (
river)
فلفل نبین چه ریزه ، بشکن ببین چه تیزه
Don’t be fooled by the size of pepper corn, break it and you know it is sharp
باغ ما قصه داره ، درخت پسه داره
Our backyard gives rise to ballads, sung from pistachio trees
رو شاخ پسه ش مرغی ، بال شیکسه داره
Bird on its pistachio branch with a broken wing
فلفل نبین چه ریزه ، بشکن ببین چه تیزه
Don’t be fooled by the size of pepper corn, break it and you know it is sharp
چمنزارش چین چینه ، پر از خال و نگینه
Rolling meadows, full of jewels
رو هر نگین و خالش ، یه شاپرک می شینه
On each stone (
jewel) sits a butterfly
فلفل نبین چه ریزه ، بشکن ببین چه تیزه
Don’t be fooled by the size of pepper corn, break it and you know it is sharp
باغ ما کلون داره ، نگین و نشون داره
Our backyard has padlocks, signs and symbols
دروازه ش بازه، اما ، شیر نگهبون دراه
Its gates are open but guarded by Lions
فلفل نبین چه ریزه ، بشکن ببین چه تیزه
Don’t be fooled by the size of pepper corn, break it and you know it is sharp
مهرگان و نوروزش ، بی رنگ و کم سو نشن
Its New Year (
first day of spring) celebration chases away gloom
پلنگای شاهنومه ش ، بزهای ترسو نشن
Tigers from the Book of Kings guard against cowardly goats (
The Book of Kings /Shahnameh was written to counteract invading Arabic culture)
فلفل نبین چه ریزه ، بشکن ببین چه تیزه
Don’t be fooled by the size of pepper corn, break it and you know it is sharp
باغ ما شبنم داره ، برگ گلش خم داره
Our backyard retains morning’s dew within its curved flowers and leaves
شمشیرش تن فولاد ، دل ابریشم داره
Its sword forged steel, its heart soft as silk
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