The expression Darde Dell in Persian — literally ‘pain heart’ — means sitting with a friend and sharing your sorrows
Oh, my friend
let’s sit down together and do darde dell,
sharing the pain in our hearts
I am imprisoned in darkness—
please shine your light on me
so I can bloom
I was like a dying flower
during a drought—
you gave me life.
By the help of your hand
I will grow strong again
for the harvest
Instead of bracing myself
against the waves
unleashed by war
I would like to rest
for just a few hours
in the calm waters of a lake
Take my hand
be kind
until I manage to
free myself
from the hostile forces
that bind me
I made my escape
from a volcanic realm
where I suffered like Abraham in Egypt
persecuted by Nimrod
Arriving at the River Nile
I wanted to drink a little water
My generation is waiting for peace
as a swallow waits for spring
but peace has come to me here
With your help I feel
as though I’m living in my motherland
and Oxford becomes
Kabul for me Original (in Dari)
HASAN BAMYANI is a poet from Kabul. He worked as a teacher there until 2002, when he came to Oxford as a refugee. He is the author of the collection Lyla and Manjun and his poetry is featured in the anthology The Story of my Life.
JAMES ATTLEE is a writer based in Oxford. His books include Guernica: Painting the End of the World (2017), Nocturne: A Journey in Search of Moonlight (2011) and Isolarion: A Different Oxford Journey (2007), among other titles.
Note on translation: James does not speak or read Dari. He and Hasan enjoy a close collaborative process, working through poems line by line over multiple drafts to find a satisfactory translation. The English version does not attempt to replicate the formal structure and rhyme scheme of the original, instead concentrating on capturing Hasan’s voice. Artwork by Abigail Hodges