A friend and Saadi scholar sent me the following translation today:
Saadi, a little less known in the West than Rumi, is another Persian poet. Whereas Rumi is all about "seek thirst" and the struggle is the reward, Saadi is all about seizing the day. And apparently, releasing the gas.
“A noble man had some gas in his stomach. He could not hold it any longer, so he let it out. He said, ‘Friends, what just took place was out of my control; I did not mean to do it. Grant me this sin. It brought me comfort. Be kind, and give me your forgiveness.
The tummy could be the prison of air, oh noble men.
No wise man keeps the air as a prisoner.
Once the gas blows in your tummy, let it out
so that this gas is only a load on your stomach
and no more.”
this is from saadi’s golestaan!
now i know!
Of note, here is Obama quoting from Saadi in his New Year speech to Iranians:
and here is an eloquent and cool young Iranian responding:
seamorg
spoonsun
[...] saadi iranelectionstories.org [...]