Aziz Isa Elkun

گۈلۈم كەلمەس

Uyghur Folk Song
Translated by Aziz Isa Elkun

Unlike a bonfire, I have been burning for an age
I miss my flower who has not returned
Separation has torn apart my life
I miss my flower who has not returned.

گۈلخان ئەمەس، كۆيدۇم ئۇزاق,
سېغىنغاندا گۈلۈم كەلمەس.
دەردى ئۆتتى جۇدالىقنىڭ،
سېغىنغاندا گۈلۈم كەلمەس.

I want to set off on the road searching for my lover
I want to know her whereabouts
I want to mourn with my tears
I miss my flower who has not returned.

يارنى ئىزدەپ چىقاي دەيمەن،
بار- يوقىنى ئۇقاي دەيمەن.
يىغلاپ ماتەم تۇتاي دەيمەن …
سېغىنغاندا گۈلۈم كەلمەس.

I asked the stars
I stopped the travellers
I lit candles at the holy shrines
I miss my flower who has not returned.

يۇلتۇزلاردىن سوراپ باقتىم،
كارۋانلارنى بۇراب باقتىم،
مازارلارغا چىراغ ياقتىم،
سېغىنغاندا گۈلۈم كەلمەس.

translated by Aziz Isa Elkun

(poet unkown)

The pain in my soul and tears in my eyes
If I see a Uyghur person coming in the distance
My desire will come flooding in like the sea
I miss you my country. 

I can’t stand a moment without thinking of you
You are there at the most beautiful cliff
I can’t stay a moment without thinking of you
You are there in my beautiful dreams.
I buried my greatest hopes inside you
I miss you my country. 

Read More

(Lewen yala – لەۋەن يالا  Uyghur folk song)

Translated by Aziz Isa Elkun

Lewen yala.mp3 – by Rahimä Mahmut

Young children are playing
They use willow twigs as a hobby horse
The exiles weep for their homeland
Oh my sweetheart

Oh, how miserable I am!
Sad and weeping in the desert

We settled on the mountains
Because we could not stay in our gardens
This is the life we are living
Not surrendering to our enemy
Oh my sweetheart

Oh, how miserable I am!
Sad and weeping in the desert

I play my dutar all alone
My black eyes are crying
I am a wanderer in your town
No one hears my words
Oh my sweetheart

Oh, how miserable I am!
Sad and weeping in the desert

Oh, how miserable I am!
Sad and weeping in the desert