Şifa İstemem Balından

English translation needed


Şifa İstemem Balından (song)

Şifa istemem balından
Bırak beni bu halımdan
Razıyım açan gülünden
Yeter dikenin batmasın

Gece gündüz o hizmetin
Şefaatin kerametin
Senin olsun hoş sohbetin
Yeter huzurum gitmesin

Taşa değmesin ayağın
Lale sümbül açsın bağın
İstemem metheylediğin
Yeter arkamdan atmasın

Kolay mı gerçeğe ermek
Dost bağında güller dermek
Orda kalsın değer vermek
Yeter ucuza satmasın

Sonu yoktur bu virdimin
Dermanı yoktur derdimin
Gerekmez ilaç yardımın
Yeter yakamdan tutmasın

Nesimi’yim vay başıma
Kanlar karıştı yaşıma
Yağın gerekmez aşıma
Yeter zehirin katmasın

I do not ask for healing from your honey*
Leave me alone with myself.
I am contended with your opening rose
As long as it doesn’t prick.

Day and night long your service
Your miracles and intercession
Let them and the pleasant conversation be yours
As long as I can keep my peace of mind

Keep your foot away from stones ( Wishes of good health and peace for someone)
Have joy and happiness in surrounding
I don’t need your praising
As long as you don’t gossip behind me

Is it easy to reach the truth ?
To build friendships and please them ?
I don’t need to be appreciated
As long as you don’t sell me cheap

There is no end to this mission
There is no cure to my suffering
I don’t need your medicine or help
As long as you don’t pester me


My name is Nesimi**
Blood got mixed with my tears
I don’t need your oil in my meal ( meaning, I don’t need your help)
As long as you don’t pour poison in it.( just don’t prevent me)

*Honey is made of the essence of the rose here. In sufism, the rose and the nightingale are the most frequently used metaphors to describe the love between the loved one and the lover which at the end leads them through the eternal real love, love of God and humanity.
**Name of the poet. In sufism and folk literature, it is a tradition that the poet uses his name in the last verse of the poem.