During a hike in the mountains of Colorado I learned that Aspen trees are interconnected through their roots. What we see as a tree is actually the limb of a very large tree, which we see as a grove. This reminded me Bani Adam (Persian: بنیآدم), a 13th-century Persian poem by Iranian poet Saadi Shirazi from his Gulistan. The poem calls humans limbs of one body, all created equal, and when one limb is hurt, the whole body shall be in unease. It therefore concludes that one not touched by the pain of others cannot be called a human.
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(1) Parasite with Symbiotic Intentions (1991-93)
Living Aspen Tree, Granite Boulder, Steel Chain and Shackle
The Aspen Community Art Park Sculpture Program
Modest underwriting of material costs, $324
Aspen, Colorado
(2) Ashen Aspen (1995)
Digitally Collage
Offset Print on Vinyl
Aspen Public Art Selection,
(2) Ashen Aspen (1995)
Digitally Collage
Offset Print on Vinyl
Aspen Public Art Selection,
Aspen Commercial Core and Lodging Commission
Award $1500
(3) When Summer Falls (1999)
Total Running Time: 2 min. 19 sec.
3D Computer Graphics Animation
Special Selection Premiered at the 2000 Aspen Film Festival
(3) When Summer Falls (1999)
Total Running Time: 2 min. 19 sec.
3D Computer Graphics Animation
Special Selection Premiered at the 2000 Aspen Film Festival
About the Author-Poet:
Abū-Muhammad Muslih al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī, better known by his pen-name Saadi was a major Persian poet and literary of the medieval period. He is recognized for the quality of his writings and for the depth of his social and moral thoughts. Saadi is widely recognized as one of the greatest poets of the classical literary tradition, earning him the nickname "Master of Speech" among Persian scholars. One of Sa'di's best-known works is Gulistan (The Rose Garden) competed in 1258. It consists of stories aptly illustrating the standard virtues recommended to Muslims (justice, liberality, modesty, contentment) and reflections on the behavior of dervishes and their ecstatic practices. Gulistan is mainly in prose and contains stories and personal anecdotes. The text is interspersed with a variety of short poems which contain aphorisms, advice, and humorous reflections, demonstrating Saadi's profound awareness of the absurdity of human existence. The fate of those who depend on the changeable moods of kings is contrasted with the freedom of the dervishes.
Bani Adam in Persian
بنی آدم اعضای یک پیکرند
که در آفرينش ز یک گوهرند
چو عضوى به درد آورد روزگار
دگر عضو ها را نماند قرار
تو کز محنت دیگران بی غمی
نشاید که نامت نهند آدمی
by Saadi from Gulistan,1258
Transliteration
Bani Aadam `aazaye yek pigarand
Keh dar aafarinesh ze yek guharand
Cho `ozvi be dard aavarad rozigaar
Degar ozvahaa raa namaanad qaraar
To kaz mehnate digaraan bi ghami
Nashaayad ke naamat nahand Aadami
Watch Lillygol Sedaghat performance
Keh dar aafarinesh ze yek guharand
Cho `ozvi be dard aavarad rozigaar
Degar ozvahaa raa namaanad qaraar
To kaz mehnate digaraan bi ghami
Nashaayad ke naamat nahand Aadami
Watch Lillygol Sedaghat performance
NOTE Worthy:
1. Obama used the translation by Marizeh Ghiasi for his New Years message to the people of Iran in 2009
2. Everyday Life, 2019 album release of British Rock band Coldplay- includes a track titled: |
source UN Photo Library |
