I remember a time in days gone by when my friend and I were as close as two almond kernels sharing a single shell. Then, quite suddenly, the winds of absence blew us apart.
After a long interval, my friend returned. He began to reproach me, saying: “In all this time of our separation, why did you not even send a messenger to seek word of me?”
I replied: “I was gripped by the fear that even the eyes of the messenger would be blessed by your handsome, while I remained here, deprived and yearning.”
O companion of my years, speak to me; offer no excuses of penance, For true repentance is never won by the force of a blade.
I am jealous that any eye should behold you while mine are denied; Yet I tell myself: “Hush—no soul could ever tire of gazing upon such grace.”
1. The Almond Metaphor : In Persian and Arabic literature, being “like two kernels in one shell” is the ultimate description of intimacy. It suggests that while they are two separate beings, they are protected by the same “skin” and share the same “flavor.” When one is missing, the shell feels empty.
2. The Messenger’s “Theft” : Saadi is using a very clever “lover’s logic” here. He is saying: “If I sent a messenger to you, that messenger would get to see your face. I would be paying him to take my place! My jealousy is so strong that I would rather have silence than know someone else is looking at you.”
3. The Sword of Penance : When Saadi says, “Repentance won’t be forced by the sword,” he is making a witty point. He means that his “sin” of missing his friend or being jealous isn’t something he can just “repent” for because of a social rule. Love and friendship are voluntary; you can’t force a heart to turn away from what it desires.
Arabic Translation
أتذكرُ (سعدي يتذكر) في الأيامِ السابقةِ أنني وصديقي كنا مثل نواتي اللوز في قشرة واحدة، و فجأةً حَدث الغِيابُ للصديقِ
بَعد مُدةٍ، عادَ الصديقُ، وبدأ العِتاب بيننا، مثلا قال لي: في هذهِ المدةِ، لمَ لَم ترسل رسولاً؟ (لمَ لم يكن هناك تواصل من قبلك)
فقلتُ له: خُفتُ بأن تأخذني الحسرة إن رأت عين الرسول وسامتكَ، وأنا مَحرومٌ
يا رفيق السنين، قل لي، لاتعتذر بالتوبةِ
فإن التوبة لن تكون رغماً بالسيفِ
أغارَ أن يَنظر أحدٌ إليكَ، لتملأ نظرها بحسنكَ
أقول مرة أخرى لنفسي: لا، لن يسأم أحدٌ من النظر إليك
Persian text
یاد دارم در ایّامِ پیشین که من و دوستی، چون دو باداممغز در پوستی صحبت داشتیم، ناگاه اتّفاقِ مَغِیْب افتاد
پس از مدتی که باز آمد، عتاب آغاز کرد که: در این مدّت قاصدی نفرستادی
گفتم: دریغ آمدم که دیدهٔ قاصد به جمال تو روشن گردد و من محروم
یارِ دیرینه، مرا، گو، به زبان توبه مده
که مرا توبه به شمشیر نخواهد بودن
رشکم آید که کسی سیر نگه در تو کند
باز گویم: نه که کس سیر نخواهد بودن
