British Poet in "Estegbal" of Nima

bordbar
by bordbar
25-Dec-2007
 

 

Not Waving but Drowning

Nobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.

Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he's dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.

Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.

by Stevie Smith (1902-1971).

 

Stevie Smith's real name was Florence Margaret Smith. "Not Waving but Drowning", perhaps her most frequently anthologized work, reminds me of Nima's "Ay Aadam-ha", a poem that narrates the final moments of a drowning "yek nafar", a gender-unspecified victim.

Both Stevie Smith's and Nima's subjects "wave" at us.

 

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more from bordbar
 
Abbas Zeineddin

Thank you Bordbar

by Abbas Zeineddin on Wed Dec 26, 2007 08:24 AM PST

This has been on my mind since last night.  When I was just reading it, I could hear Moshiri's voice reciting it while I was trying to get through traffic.  Cheghadr ziba!!!  Have to find that tape!

-Abbas 


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ما

b_bordbar (not verified)
Wed Dec 26, 2007 06:59 AM PST

Hi Abbas,

I found a poem, attributed to Moshiri, on the net, that cites Nima's work. Interestingly, the poem is from the point of view of Nima's "aadam-ha" or Stevie Smith's "they". These poems truly cross-pollinate each other.

//www.iranactor.com/belles/moshiri/new/ma,%20...

Bordbar


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Abbas Zeineddin

smiley face :) & Bordbar, I believe you're both right

by Abbas Zeineddin on Tue Dec 25, 2007 08:40 PM PST

Moshiri does have a poem, whose name and lyrics I have not been able to find online for the past hour, where he references Nima's "Ay Aadam-ha" and keeps using the phrase throughout the poem.  I had a tape of Moshiri's recitals that I used to listen in my car all the time.  That's why I was so sure that it's his poem.  Anyway, thank you for the clarification and if anyone finds a link to Moshiri's poem, please post. 

-Abbas


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"Ay Aadam-ha" or "Hey, People" by "Nima Yoshij"

by smiley face :) (not verified) on Tue Dec 25, 2007 06:07 PM PST

The poem belongs to "Nima Yoshij" and it is "Ay Aadam-ha" in Farsi and "Hey, People" in English. Here is one the links for you to check it out!

//www.iranchamber.com/literature/nyoshij/nima...


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Abbas Zeineddin

Wrong poet

by Abbas Zeineddin on Tue Dec 25, 2007 05:43 PM PST

Dear Bordbar, Fereydoon Moshiri wrote "Ay Aadam-ha", not Nima.  Sorry!


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critic has always been

by timetotalk (not verified) on Tue Dec 25, 2007 03:18 PM PST

critic has always been criticized. so thats the best he can do, party pooper!
there is time and place and what not to say exercising that is wisdom.
another one of us without wisdom.
i saw a tv interview with nima once. he was asked why he strated writing he said that he saw on tv they were sending man to the moon and he was sitting doing nothing. so he decided to do something positive and started writing poetry. i alwasy thought poetry and man on the moon are a little to far off. today i realize he was sending ensaniat across the hearts, thank you Bordbar.


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Very beautiful poem

by smiley face :) (not verified) on Tue Dec 25, 2007 02:45 PM PST

This is a very beautiful poem, I love it... No question, Nima’s "Ay Aadam-ha" is one of the masterpieces of new poetry, very powerful and meaningful. The other greatest is "Zemesstan" by mem Omid/Akhavaneh Saless, and what nice performance of this poem by Sharam Nazeri!

Peace and love for every body!


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To Critic

by Man and the Sea (not verified) on Tue Dec 25, 2007 02:02 PM PST

You can say that again!


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This is not esteghbal!!

by Critic (not verified) on Tue Dec 25, 2007 12:59 PM PST

Bordbar,
You are clearly unclear about the meaning of "esteghbal". First of all when one poet "esteghbal"s another poem's work, it is done with the full knowledge of the orginal poem. I cannot imagine, or at least you have not referenced in your work, if Stevie Smith has had any idea who Nima was or has known of his poetry. Second, esteghbal is not a copy work. It is an extension on the same theme but with usually a different story line. Here it is the "same" story said in a similar way.
Your interpretation of esteghbal is your own personal one.


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This is not esteghbal!!

by Critic (not verified) on Tue Dec 25, 2007 12:57 PM PST

Bordbar,
You are clearly unclear about the meaning of "esteghbal". First of all when one poet "esteghbal"s another poem's work, it is done with the full knowledge of the orginal poem. I cannot imagine, or at least you have not referenced in your work, if Stevie Smith has had any idea who Nima was or has known of his poetry. Second, esteghbal is not a copy work. It is an extension on the same theme but with usually a different story line. Here it is the "same" story said in a similar way.
Your interpretation of esteghbal is your own personal one.


  •  
default

This is not esteghbal!!

by Critic (not verified) on Tue Dec 25, 2007 12:57 PM PST

Bordbar,
You are clearly unclear about the meaning of "esteghbal". First of all when one poet "esteghbal"s another poem's work, it is done with the full knowledge of the orginal poem. I cannot imagine, or at least you have not referenced in your work, if Stevie Smith has had any idea who Nima was or has known of his poetry. Second, esteghbal is not a copy work. It is an extension on the same theme but with usually a different story line. Here it is the "same" story said in a similar way.
Your interpretation of esteghbal is your own personal one.


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