The Meaning of Life

THE MEANING OF LIFE

You, people, are all to cry when you’re born:
Then you need to add a smile to your tears.
But for adding to them a warm smile of yours,
You need the whole nation to be full of cheers.

You, people, all turn to be an ideal at times:
Then you need to be parents, sign of trace,
But for giving a life taking from your life,
You need to be inseparable from your race.

You, people, all become weakened sometimes:
Then you need just someone asking your wellness.
But for having someone to ask how you feel,
You need one protecting you from an illness.

You, people, will end up being lonely one day:
Then you need to pass away and be buried fairly.
But you do not want the people to weep after you,
You need them all to grieve unawarely.

Kerim GURBANNEPESOV.

Translated by Saparnepes Atabayev

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■ ÖMRÜŇ MANYSY

Aglap dünýä inýäň, adam diýen zat:
Onsoň agyň gülkä garyşan gerek.
Ýöne weli gülkä garyşmak üçin
Ýurt abadan, durmuş çaglaşan gerek.

Kem-kem kämil bolýaň, adam diýen zat:
Onsoň sen janlara jan goşan gerek.
Ýöne welin jana jan goşmak üçin
Bagryň il-gün bilen badaşan gerek.

Käte ejiz bolýaň, adam diýen zat:
Şonda gelip derdiň soraşan gerek.
Ýöne weli derdiň soraşmak üçin
Ozal seni dertden goraşan gerek.

Bir gün ýalňyz galýaň, adam diýen zat:
Onsoň abraý bilen jaýlaşan gerek.
Ygtyýar bermersiň aglaşmak üçin,
Ýöne biygtyýar aglaşan gerek.