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How Beautiful Thy Head Looks
Translated by Alexander Chodzko (1842) · From Specimens of the Popular Poetry of Persia (1842)
How beautiful thy head looks with this plume; it is like the male crane's head. I shall keep it; I shall watch over it carefully. I sought thee in heaven, and I have found thee on earth; do not weep, my young crane. The arched line of thy eyebrows has been sketched by the pen of the Almighty. Thou art just come of age, thou art fifteen, O my youth. To all these ornaments one only is wanting, and it is that of chivalrous achievements. Thou shalt be the model of a Warrior. I shall cover thy head with a calotte of gold. O my young crane, weep no more.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Codex Note
Kurroglou's song to a young man he has taken into his care, praising him and promising to make him a warrior.
Cite this poem
MLA
Köroğlu. “How Beautiful Thy Head Looks.” Translated by Alexander Chodzko. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/koroglu/10/.
Chicago
Köroğlu. “How Beautiful Thy Head Looks.” Translated by Alexander Chodzko. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/koroglu/10/.
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