Nature

Lo, Ne'er a Trace or Sign of Springtide's

by Bâqî 1526–1600

Translated by E. J. W. Gibb (1882) · From Ottoman Poems (1882)

Nature

Lo, ne'er a trace or sign of springtide's beauty doth remain;
Fall'n 'midst the garden lie the leaves, now all their glory vain.

Bleak stand the orchard trees, all clad in tattered dervish rags;
Dark Autumn's blast hath torn away the hands from off the plane.

From each hill-side they come and cast their gold low at the feet
Of garden trees, as hoped the streams from these some boon to gain.

Stay not within the parterre, let it tremble with its shame:
Bare every shrub, this day doth nought or leaf or fruit retain.

Bâqî, within the garden lies full many a fallen leaf;
Low lying there, it seems they 'gainst the winds of Fate complain.

✦ ✦ ✦

Gazel (On Autumn).

MLA

Bâqî. “Lo, Ne'er a Trace or Sign of Springtide's.” Translated by E. J. W. Gibb. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/baqi/7/.

Chicago

Bâqî. “Lo, Ne'er a Trace or Sign of Springtide's.” Translated by E. J. W. Gibb. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/baqi/7/.

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