A friend posted a perplexing problem on Facebook, asking for a nicer Tagalog translation for “ferment” (being a Bisaya, it is difficult for him to translate it into Tagalog). A couple of people suggested “buro” (preserve in salt), which doesn’t really capture the essence of what was needed to be translated.

It turns out it was a poem he was trying to translate. So I decided to translate the entire thing into Tagalog because the poem would lose its rhythm and soul by translating it literally, I think.

And my friend liked it and told me to post it here.

Absolutely Clear Poem by Shams al-Din Hafiz Shirazi – Poem Hunter

Don’t surrender your loneliness
So quickly.
Let it cut more deep.

Let it ferment and season you
As few human
Or even divine ingredients can.

Something missing in my heart tonight
Has made my eyes so soft,
My voice
So tender,

My need of God
Absolutely
Clear.

(my translation)

Huwag agad isuko
ang iyong kalungkutan.
Hayaan mong ito’y sumugat nang malalim.

Hayaang ika’y timplahin at iburo nito
Na hindi magagawa ng ilang tao
O banal na sangkap.

Ang pangungulila sa puso ngayong gabi
Ay nakapaglamlam ng aking mata,
At nakapagpalambing
Ng aking tinig

Ang aking pangangailangan sa Maykapal
Walang pasubali
Malinaw.