|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BRINGING UP A SON, FROM THE GARDEN OF PERFUME, by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI Poet's Biography First Line: When a boy has passed ten years of age Last Line: For the degenerate son dead before his father is best. Alternate Author Name(s): Saadi | |||
WHEN a boy has passed ten years of age, Say: "Sit apart from those not unlawful to him in marriage." It is not right to kindle a fire on cotton; For while thou wink'st the eye, the house is burned. When thou wishest that thy name may remain in place of honor. Teach the son wisdom and judgment. When his skill and judgment are insufficient Thou wilt die, and none of thy family will remain. He endures severity for much time, -- The son whom the father tenderly cherishes. Keep him wise and abstinent; If thou lovest him, keep him not by endearing expressions. Rebuke and instruct him in childhood; Exercise promise and fear as to his good deeds. For the young student, commendation and reward Are better than the master's reprimand and threatening. Teach the one matured, hand-toil. Even if Karun-like, thou hast command as to wealth. How knowest the? The revolution of time May cause him to wander in exile in the country. Rely not on that resource which is: For it may be that wealth may not remain in thy hand. When for him there are the resources of trade, How may he bear the hand of beggary before any one? The purse of silver and gold reaches its limit; The purse of the trader becomes not empty. Know'st thou not how Sa'di obtained his object? He neither traversed the desert nor plowed the sea. In childhood he suffered slaps from the great: In matureness God gave him purity. Whosoever places his neck in submission to order, Not much time passes but he gives orders. Every child who the violence of the teacher Experiences not, will suffer the violence of time. Keep the son good and cause to reach him That his eyes of expectation may not remain on the hands of others. Whosoever endured not grief for his son, Another suffered grief and abused him. Preserve him from the bad teacher, For the unfortunate and road-lost one makes him like him- self. . . . . . Suffer not regret as to the destruction and ruin of a wicked son. For the degenerate son dead before his father is best. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HUMANITY, FR. THE GARDEN OF PERFUME by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI HUMILITY, FR. GARDEN OF PERFUME by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI HYACINTHS TO FEED THY SOUL by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI KEEP YOUR OWN SECRET by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI MORAL EDUCATION AND SELF-CONTROL, FR. GARDEN OF PERFUM by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI SALVE SENESCENTEM by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI THE BUSTAN: THE DANCER by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI THE CHOICE OF FRIENDS by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI THE GULISTAN, SELECTION by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI |
| |