Ghazal No. 24

A true lover does not differentiate between the Ka‘bah and the idol-house. The one is the Beloved’s privacy, the other His appearing publicly.

I am glad my grave has been built in the Harem’s own street. With my eyelashes I will dig a tunnel from the Ka‘bah to the idol-house. (A Message from the East).

Better than any company in this world or the next are a sagacious friend and two goblets of wine.

Here everyone has eyes and everyone a tongue. So in your company one story breeds another.

Who is He Who has launched a night-attack on hearts, who like a Turk has plundered a hundred cities of desire?

Where I roam in my mad pursuit the angel Gabriel is but small game. Come, O my manly courage, cast a lasso upon God Himself.

Iqbal has in the pulpit blurted out a secret that was not to be revealed. Well, he had issued forth still raw from the wine-tavern’s privacy.