The Hidden Soul of the World ( جان ناپیدای جهان )

The vast expanse of the sky
was never enough
to shield the fiery crown of the poppy
from the relentless blade of passing moments.
It could not grant it the strength
to defy the march of time
or to rise eternal,
dancing forever
in the tender embrace of a restless breeze.

The free partridge, too,
nestled upon the green lap of the mountains,
found no sanctuary—
its trembling song,
soft and delicate,
haunted by the shadow of the hawk's claws.

Even the untamed flame of the sun
could not forever burn
upon the thirsty skin of the earth,
nor shield the nests of quiet doves
from the biting breath of winter's frost.

It is a cycle—
seen and unseen,
woven deep within the unseen soul of possibility,
birthing and burying,
unceasing.

Each hue
yields to another,
as the eternal body of the world
is draped anew
in robes of shifting colors.

And with the galloping steed of dawn,
light surges forth,
ascending the dark peaks of night,
singing songs of triumph.

It is a cycle,
spun from the endless threads of time,
ending only
in the fleeting gaze
of a blossoming acacia.

It is the tale of space and time,
woven with the boundless essence
of life and the lifeless,
mocking stillness,
defying silence.

And yet,
amidst this infinite dance,
emerges the story of you and me—
a singular, conscious spark,
born of earth and water,
ascending to the throne of being,
and drinking deeply
from the overflowing chalice of love.

It is a cycle—
the stories of the world,
so vast,
that even the expanse of the sky
cannot contain it.

Arsalan, Tehran
13th January 2025

---

Notes on the Recreation

1. Faithfulness to the Original Themes

   • The cyclical nature of existence, the interplay of life and death, and the transcendence of love and consciousness were preserved.

2. Poetic Imagery

   • Images like the "fiery crown of the poppy" and the "galloping steed of dawn" bring the poem to life, staying true to the evocative natural imagery of the original.

3. Philosophical Depth

   • The tension between impermanence and eternity, the contrast between the lifeless and the living, and the role of human consciousness were emphasized to maintain the poem’s profound reflection on existence.

4. Accessible Language

   • While staying poetic, the language was adapted to be accessible and resonant for English-speaking readers, without losing the layered meanings of the original.

This version seeks to retain the spirit of the Persian original while crafting a rhythm and tone that appeals to the poetic sensibilities of English readers.