1. O would that time were shaped as youth, so fair,
To mine eyes now it seems but empty air,

2. The sky has shed its luster since gone by
And daylight wanes, infirm and bleak, awry,

3. The eve’s bright wings fold in as if to keep
Repose or homebound flight when shadows creep,

4. The clouds like remnants of a vanquished horde
In disarray when turned and put to sword.

5. While silence spreads its wings in dark repose
And night lets down its mantle, in it doze

6. All couched, to slumber yielding wing and breast,
While night now dons its starry raiment dressed,

7. Save one whose heart is restless, consumed with fire,
A guest, but with no will to now retire.

8. Her plaits have brushed the earth; how I envy
Those tresses now the earth and dust ally!

9. Her cheeks reveal a soft, endearing way,
And power to kill with flutter of her eye.

10. A blush like wine stains modesty’s own bower,
As if those cups still ferment, charm and sour.

11. More fair her cheek than any place of cheer,
More deadly her glance than kohl or mascar.

12. One look and many a soul she will waylay
While God from her was utterly away.

13. Thus falling into love’s calamitous sea,
The noble falcon, and such likes as he.

14. For loving eyes and ears both intercede,
To hearts the ears will thus find ready lead.

15. In loving, blame no one but your eyes,
For eyes, not hearts, are murderous when wise.

16. She bid farewell, her cheeks now lined with care,
Would that longing kept her beauty fair!

17. When youth possesses one, no redress avails,
No critics barbs make flush of new love pale.

18. A sound in darkness made her start and race
In panic off, her standing place displace.

19. A dying moan: “You’ve killed me,” makes her fleet,
“Would your mother mourn you, unfinished sweet!”

20. Her hips tug at her skirts as she propels
Her body forth, her tired waist rebels.

21. As if her mantle hides a cheetah’s spots,
Her pants conceal a deer’s defined haunch knots.

22. The friend of blackest night she’s made her guide,
And moaning dirges to moaning confide.

23. She seeks to know the truth, clarify
This vague enigma, find what hidden lie.

24. She cocks her pistol ‘mid those silent towers,
Its shots for arrows leaving bloodied flowers.

25. Death lingers in his eyes, a fatal threat,
His aging gaze, though dim, can kill her yet.

26. His eyelids bullets from her gun have stilled
As if his heart with heated lead were filled.

27. It shields the meek against the tyrant’s rule,
The coward’s victory o’er the daring fool.

28. In grief, the girl can’t tell what she has ended -
An arm? A mile? So far her shots have wended!

29. Until she sees the corpse her shots reveal
No more than a phantom her bullets seal.

30. You killed my love! she knows with certainty,
Though it’s the murdered corpse she now must see.

31. She nears and fires point blank at his form,
A body crumples that was straight and warm.

32. Like the full moon his beauty had its phases,
His nobility sweeter than spring gazes,

33. His freshness greener than the sapling bud,
His sword sharp as his valor, and blood.

34. A lionheart whose being duty braces,
True friend who never once his kin betrays.

35. He who pleased her love, though others abhorred,
This was the knight her shots had lately gored.

36. His struggle gained him but the lowest place,
The moon must cede the sky as night winds race.

37. The girl knew not her love she had killed
He whom she never saw but to give her thrill.

38. Only at dawn, the funeral bier in view,
Did she see whom her random shot had slew.

39. Not even to his readied grave was he brought
Ere her own bitter bullet had found its slot.

40. My friend, if you visit where both lovers lie,
Recite a prayer soft o'er them with a sigh.

41. From a bard who stirs no branch with song of love
Save he recall a vine, some cooing dove!