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Shokhrukh Usmonov’s translation of Nilufar Shakarova’s poem: Ko’zlaringni yum, o, ko’zlari ochun – Close Your Eyes, O My Moon-Eyed Man (Uzbek to English)

Editor’s Note: It is worth mentioning that these poems of Nilufar Shakarova are being published for the first time as well. Since DoubleSpeak is an English magazine, hence it is fitting that they are published with their English translations.

Ko’zlaringni yum, o, ko’zlari ochun


Ko’zlarimni yumdim…

Kelding qarshimga,

Ilkimni cho’zmoqqa qilmadim jazm.

Yiqildim, yengildim ohu chashmingga

Oh, bu mag’lubiyat — eng buyuk orzum!

Ko’zlaringni yumding, keldik ro’baro’,

Farqki, xayolingda endi men kezdim.

Nasimlar keltirgan nafaslar aro

Mening titroq shimgan nafasim sezding.

Shunda angladikki, sevgimiz uchun

Kerak emasligin na ko’z, na surat.

Ko’zlaringni yum, o, ko’zlari ochun,

Diydor — ko’zmas, qalblar uchrashgan fursat.

Close Your Eyes, O My Moon-Eyed Man


 

I closed my eyes…

You came before my sight,

I did not dare to give you my hand.

I fell, I surrendered to your gazelle-like light —

Oh, this defeat is my greatest demand!

You closed your eyes, we met face to face,

The difference is that in your mind I did stray.

Among the breaths that the gentle breezes trace,

You sensed my own trembling breath on the way.

We understood then, that for our affection,

Neither sight is needed, nor a form.

Close your eyes, o my moon-eyed man,

When hearts meet, not eyes — that ends the storm.

Shokhrukh Usmonov is a poet and literary translator, born in 2001 in the Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan. He studied Uzbek-English translation theory and practice at Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature. He was a runner-up in the Duel, a contest in the field of literary translation in 2021 and his work was nominated for The Best Book for Children and Teenagers in Translation award in 2022.
Nilufar Shakarova (born 24th of June, 1999) is an emerging poet from Jizzakh, Uzbekistan. Beyond writing poetry, she is currently a master’s degree student at the Jizzakh State Pedagogical University. Nilufar writes more about timeless feelings of humankind, mostly using Eastern poetry style which is rich in rhythm and wit.

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