غزل شمارهٔ 166

A garden—may its roses bloom till resurrection-day; an idol—may the two worlds be scattered over its beauty!

At daybreak the prince of the fair ones stalks forth to the chase—may our hearts be the quarry for the arrows of his glances!

What messages are momently flashing from his eyes to mine— may my eyes be gladdened and intoxicated by his message!

I broke down the door of an ascetic; with an imprecation he banned me: “Be gone! May your days all be without peace!”

Thanks to his curse, the beloved has left me neither peace nor heart, that beloved who thirsts for my blood—may God befriend him!

My body is like the moon, melting away out of love; my heart is like Venus’ harp—may its strings be snapped!

Regard not the moon’s melting, Venus’ broken estate; behold rather the sweetness of his sorrow—may it increase a thousand-fold!

What a bride is in the soul! Through the reflection of her face may the world be fresh and figured as the hands of the newly-wedded!

Regard not the fleshly cheek, which corrupts and decays; regard the spiritual cheek—may it be fair and lovely for ever!

The dark body is like a raven, and the physical world is winter—despite these two unlovelies, may there be spring eternal!

For these two unlovelies subsist through the four elements; may your servants subsist through other than these four!