A poem of great beauty not known to English speakers is now available in English translation. The poem is Az Bágh-i-Iláhí (Hailing from the Godly Garden) and the translator is Adib Masumian. It is among the most well-known works of Baha’u’llah. Adib Taherzadeh describes it as follows:
“Az-Bágh-i-Iláhí is an ode revealed not long before the Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh. It is one of His most joyous odes, composed in an exalted style. Each Persian verse is followed by one in Arabic, and the combination of the two creates a rich melody of unsurpassed beauty and enchantment.
Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, vol. 1, pp. 218
The poem consists of 32 stanzas, each with varying length, but most have 7 lines and all end with the celebratory refrain, “Make haste! Make haste!”
Each line is given over to a concise announcement of Baha’u’llah’s appearance and divine station, in a snapshot metaphor or succinct statement. The imagery is relentless, coming at the reader one scene after the other, creating the effect of a text-based video. Coupled with the metre, the effect is mesmorising, magnificant and captivating.
Here are stanzas 8 and 9:
This is the Throat so delicate![7]
This is the Breast of ample bounty!
This is a generous Sustenance!
Upon this Day of Resurrection,
That snow-white Fashioner of being,
That Glorious Revealer’s[8] come!
Make haste, make haste!This is a God like ne’er before!
Baha’u’llah: Az Bágh-i-Iláhí (Hailing from the Godly Garden), translated by Adib Masumian
This is indeed the holy Lord!
This is delectable Sweetness!
With voice and message at the ready,
That mystery of God’s beauty,
His glory unalloyed is come!
Make haste, make haste!
A very big thank you to Adib Masumian for bringing this treasure to the world. Make haste, make haste to all and read it!