Halima Khudoyberdieva

HALIMA KHUDOYBERDIEVA, well known poetess, national poetess of Uzbekistan, enlightener. She wrote many poetry books. She is very esteemed for her true feelings. For a long time she worked for Uzbekistan Women’s Association and many editorial boards. Her poems have been translated into many languages, including Russian and English.

LOOK FOR ME

If I widen
Like a bowl if I widen,
Look for me, seek from the shivers of heart’s bottom
If my verses like a flower become faded
Look for me then in the sorrow of the autumn.

If you think that planet’s narrow,
World is broad,
I am a leaf and kindly ask you
Not to pick off.
Reckon as a learner, esteem -
When you hold,
Respect as Yassaviy’s pupil,
Whom I follow.

If I go with the Sun
In wealth, in eminence,
Look for me in
Mercy, blessings of Allah, and:
Once:you won’t find me
When I once: evanesce
Look for me then
From the lasting Turkistan land.

HANDS OF FREEDOM

As your mother, along with you
Take away it
As your baby do not let it
Go in advance
Share this world only with this,
Be delighted
Be in keeping, take its hands firm
Hold them at once.
World – imperfect,
Days of Allah
Are so distinct
One day you will have sufferings
And other – fun
Motherless and childless lightly
You can subsist
But to live without freedom
Never can one!

LEAVE YOURSELF STRAIGHT

I am not able to know. Is this world wisdom or gold,
I wished revealing all the magic, every time but was surprised,
They see my palace in detail, and a special room I hold,
No friend I find to see my heart, and for care to arise.

A thought has settled in my soul, like a bodkin and a shot,
I ask you: never fall, because:a fallen man has no support.

Jackdaws move away from you, even gardens step aside,
Thank you for your cultivation, do you like them take offense?
The mounts that you lifted up are able calmly leave behind,
Come near, but be not distressed if a stone won’t confess.

Having tired, if you wish to lean, no garden, almond – spoilt,
I ask you: never fall, because a fallen man has no support!

If you have not only taking but a good aid-giving friend,
Stand up straight yourself that every pillar in the world will fall.
Even if you have a friend that’s going up to grave – till end,
Go yourself to death and never on the way depart at all.

Live in pride!
And having mourning, act: you lucky man, in short,
I ask you: never fall, because a fallen man has no support!

Translated by Azam Abidov

I Have Found You

I have found you, but farewell,
Say "Farewell," not "Until we meet."
This sun will still get very red and hot,
This moon too will wish much harm on my life.

If you won't become the partner for my sadness now,
Actually, I would never have you as my partner.
Goodbye now, forgive my too much/not enough,
I cannot love you like Layla.

Don't be hurt because of these mistaken problems.
O God, desires go empty in a moment.
How should I find out in the paths of love--
Not crazy, I will meet You face to face...

Men seni topgandim
Halima Xudoyberdiyeva

Men seni topgandim, ammo yaxshi qol,
Sen "yaxshi qol" degil, "ko'rishguncha"mas.
Bul quyosh hali ko'p ol bo'ladir, ol,
Bul oy ham umrimga ko'p qiladir qasd.

Sen sherik bo'lmaysan endi g'amimga,
Darvoqe, hech qachon sherik qilmadim.
Xayr endi, ma'zur tut ortiq-kamimga,
Men seni Layloday seva bilmadim.

O'rtanma, bu xato mushkullaridan,
Yo rabbiy, lahzada bor orzular puch.
Men ham qaydan bilay ishq yo'llarida--
Majnun emas, Senga kelarimni duch...

The play on words is in the last line: Majnun means crazy, but is also the legendary lover of Layla -- a role that the poet rejects at the end of the previous stanza.



Poet Halima Xudoyberdiyeva was born on May 17, 1947 on the Progress Collective Farm in Boyovut, Surxondaryo Province. She graduated from the journalism faculty at Tashkent State University (now Uzbekistan National University) in 1972. Her first job was on the editorial staff of the journal Saodat. In her student years she published her poem collection Ilk Muhabbat (first love). The poet's collections Oq Olmalar (white apples) and Chaman (flower garden) were published in 1973 and 1974. Right away she was known for her own particular quality. In 1975-77 she studied in an advanced literature course at the Literature Institute in Moscow. In these years the poet's collections Beliye Yabloki (white apples in Russian), Suyanch Tog'larim (my supporting mountains), and Bobo Quyosh (grandfather sun) were published.

Xudoyberdiyeva was the head of the Yosh Gvardiya publications department (1978-1982), and in 1984-1994 was the editor in chief of Saodat. From 1991 to 1994 she was president of the Uzbekistan Women's Committee. The poet sang with warmth of ordinary peasants and the motherland in her poems. In the years of independence, Halima Xudoyberdiyeva wrote of the people's history, their famous ancestors. Muqaddas Ayol (sacred woman) (1987), Bu Kunlarga Yetganlar Bor (there are those who have made it to now) (1993), To'marisning Aytgani (what Tomyris said) (1996), Saylanma (selected anthology) (2000) are the poet's major works.

In 1992 Xudoyberdiyeva was awarded the title of "People's Poet of Uzbekistan" and the "Mark of Honor" medal.

Translated from Uzbek by Johanna-Hypatia Cybeleia

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