Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BRINGING UP A SON, FROM THE GARDEN OF PERFUME, by MOSHARREF OD-DIN IBN MOSLEH OD-DIN SADI


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BRINGING UP A SON, FROM THE GARDEN OF PERFUME, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When a boy has passed ten years of age
Last Line: For the degenerate son dead before his father is best.
Alternate Author Name(s): Saadi


WHEN a boy has passed ten years of age,
Say: "Sit apart from those not unlawful to him in
marriage."
It is not right to kindle a fire on cotton;
For while thou wink'st the eye, the house is burned.

When thou wishest that thy name may remain in place of
honor.
Teach the son wisdom and judgment.

When his skill and judgment are insufficient
Thou wilt die, and none of thy family will remain.

He endures severity for much time, --
The son whom the father tenderly cherishes.

Keep him wise and abstinent;
If thou lovest him, keep him not by endearing expressions.

Rebuke and instruct him in childhood;
Exercise promise and fear as to his good deeds.

For the young student, commendation and reward
Are better than the master's reprimand and threatening.

Teach the one matured, hand-toil.
Even if Karun-like, thou hast command as to wealth.

How knowest the? The revolution of time
May cause him to wander in exile in the country.

Rely not on that resource which is:
For it may be that wealth may not remain in thy hand.

When for him there are the resources of trade,
How may he bear the hand of beggary before any one?

The purse of silver and gold reaches its limit;
The purse of the trader becomes not empty.

Know'st thou not how Sa'di obtained his object?
He neither traversed the desert nor plowed the sea.

In childhood he suffered slaps from the great:
In matureness God gave him purity.

Whosoever places his neck in submission to order,
Not much time passes but he gives orders.

Every child who the violence of the teacher
Experiences not, will suffer the violence of time.

Keep the son good and cause to reach him
That his eyes of expectation may not remain on the hands
of others.

Whosoever endured not grief for his son,
Another suffered grief and abused him.

Preserve him from the bad teacher,
For the unfortunate and road-lost one makes him like him-
self.
. . . . .

Suffer not regret as to the destruction and ruin of a wicked
son.
For the degenerate son dead before his father is best.






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