Life
When, opening just a crack, the heavy door
Translated from Uzbek · Original text
When, opening just a crack, the heavy doorOf bitter life, all made of steel, swung wide,A youth, hearing a restrained cry,Felt the cradle of fear rocking in his heart.And so he asked a man advanced in years:“Tell me, O dear man!Today I felt the weight of life,Such anxiety awoke within my heart.What should I do so that my torment will be less,What should I do to keep far from error?!What should I do so that my kin will smile,And so that the many traps of Satan will not catch me?!”The great old man gave a short reply:“For this, my son, you have to grow up.”The youth, his heart burning with grief,Said: “What is growing up? Tell me, father!”“First of all, keep a dignified bearing,Let there be a scale for every word.Then your precious speech will not go to waste,It is always better when words are few.Then you will set foot on the road to growing up,The thresholds of majesty will open.And if you want to be a truly great man,Listen to these pearls of counsel.That is, if someone plunges a dagger into your heart,If someone suddenly abandons your door;If, as though you had died, one dayYour dearest friend does not ask after you;Though your insides overflow with words,Though you long to bring it all to light,Looking into the dark eyes that look at you,Simply watching destiny at play,Your voice will never rise in complaint,You will not even lose your smile.Then your growing up will be blessed,Then you will be called a great man, my boy.”Akrom MALIK
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.