Ali

“A fire broke out backstage in a theatre. The clown came out to warn the public; they thought it was a joke and applauded. He repeated it; the acclaim was even greater. I think that's just how the world will come to an end: to general applause from wits who believe it's a joke.”
― Soren Kierkegaard, Either/Or, Part I

“Swiftly the remembrance of all things is buried in the gulf of eternity.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

“در روزهای آخر اسفند
کوچ بنفشه‌های مهاجر
زيباست
در نيم‌روز روشن اسفند
وقتی بنفشه ها را از سايه های سرد
در اطلس شميم بهاران
با خاک و ريشه
- ميهن سيارشان –
از جعبه‌های کوچک و چوبی
در گوشه‌ی خيابان می‌آورند
جوی هزار زمزمه در من
می‌جوشد:
ای کاش
ای کاش، آدمی وطنش را
مثل بنفشه‌ها
(در جعبه‌های خاک)
يک روز می‌توانست
هم‌راه خويشتن ببرد هر کجا که خواست
در روشنای باران
در آفتاب پاک”
― محمد رضا شفيعي كدكني

“Anyway, those things would not have lasted long.
The experience of the years shows it to me.
But Destiny arrived in some haste and stopped them.
The beautiful life was brief.
But how potent were the perfumes,
On how splendid a bed we lay,
To what sensual delight we gave our bodies.

An echo of the days of pleasure,
An echo of the days drew near me,
A little of the fire of the youth of both of us,
Again I took in my hands a letter,
And I read and reread till the light was gone.

And melancholy, I came out on the balcony
Came out to change my thoughts at least by looking at
A little of the city that I loved,
A little movement on the street and in the shops.

Translated by Rae Dalven”
― C.P. Cavafy