1. A lover wanders in the dark, the stars his guide,
Lovers have no luck in this world.

2. A glance struck me down, I almost
Envied those who cannot see.

3. A glance that saddened my heart,
A heart's affliction is but a glance.

4. May God not bless you, O Sunday,
Nor greet you, O rain.

5. You who revealed those tearful eyes -
Travelers, seducing poetry.

6. You tempted me, perfect in form
As in nature, or more.

7. Your dawning outshone the morning sun,
A gazelle startled by your gaze.

8. All about you is beautiful, desirable,
Flawless but for excess beauty.

9. Had those who blame seen you,
They would not blame me, but excuse.

10. A cheek like a rose in color
And scent, in taste.

11. A flower, though unplucked,
A garden's beauty in its place.

12. An unmatched pearl, priceless,
Though shut inside its shell.

13. Cheeks and breasts like the moon,
Only when sighted is she full.

14. Hair cascading like black snakes
Over hips gracefully swaying.

15. A figure the branch would be shy to see,
Outshone by that supple bough.

16. Stopped in its swaying only by its pride,
Else leaves and birds would swoon.

17. Lids that made me look lovesick,
As if by magic, or some secret sign.

18. Waking passion in the heedless heart
That feels nothing, understands nothing.

19. Ecstasy so sweet in flesh
After it all else seems petty.

20. He who knows not love is wretched,
Sees no joy in all his years.

21. Life passes fruitless, endlessly
Seeking what cannot be found.

22. I knew not joy before love
Shot me with his arrow.

23. People laugh, I frown
As if locked in some feud.

24. They remarked on me
And said publicly: we saw

25. A rock dressed as a man!
Had they seen even statues hide sorrow,

26. They'd think me human, not an idol of stone.
I lingered in the gloom of despair

27. Until love revived some hope.
Before love I wandered in darkness,

28. No escape for my soul in sight.
Love dispelled it, light shone through,

29. As the sun banishes darkest night.
My heart swelled with dreams

30. Where once nothing stirred.
After we met she threatened to leave,

31. Such is life, coming and going.
Fate grew angry seeing our cup of joy

32. And refused it be tasted.
If fate knew the pain

33. It would help unite the lovers.
Under the vast sky I found

34. No equal in misery on earth or beyond.
Had my sorrows been mountains

35. They would shake in the gentlest breeze.
Forgive me if like a specter

36. Or invalid I seem.
My sickness comes from the letters Saad and Daal*

37. And only Meem and Daal can cure.
My body wasted away

38. Only the destined endure.
Many a night oblivion found me

39. And the cup of joy passed me by.
Memories stirred sorrow and my heart cried red pearls

40. Waking my family and servants.
They came to see what was the matter.

41. I said: an illness consumes my heart,
Nearly rupturing it inside of me.

42. They believed me, then one left
To summon the doctor in haste.

43. He arrived in a flash.
The people gathered around.

44. He said: Why crowd him?
You only increase the danger.

45. All left and my room
Became empty as a poor poet's purse.

46. He came to ask my symptoms
But I would not respond.

47. He uncovered me and what he saw
Had nearly been my undoing.

48. The veil of professionalism fell away
And I saw the radiant full moon.

49. I was shocked but also delighted,
Threatening to forget all propriety

50. In that intoxicating moment
I wished would last forever.

51. She embraced me as I wept blood
And cried pearls for my crying.

52. After that long embrace
We whispered the language of hearts.

53. Just then, a knock, and we nearly melted,
The moment of parting had come.

54. She resumed the doctor's clothes
While the people reentered.

55. She said all my complaints
Had vanished and I was healed.

56. *Saad and Daal form the root letters for the Arabic word for "starvation". Meem and Daal form the root letters for the word "repast".