1. I will recount for you, from a spellbinding poet,
A tale, praised be its narrator.

2. A lord called his companions one night,
Its edges softened by the moon’s light.

3. In his palace gathered a group,
Noble, no grudges held among the troop-

4. The people’s finest lords and ladies,
And the tribe’s most precious beauties-

5. Until seated were they, one and all,
As the cupbearer began his call.

6. The lord of the house rose, cup in his grasp,
Lent meaning by the wine it did clasp.

7. “O friends,” said he, “remembering you
Fills it with love -drink deep, and do!”

8. “And remember a slave whose love was true,
And my heart, one of her handmaidens too-

9. My beloved Lamiya, I named her so,
Never before had I named her, though,

10. Drink up, all, her secret hiding,
Cry out, all, your thirst abiding!”

11. “Thank her guests abundantly,
Gratitude makes blessings stay.

12. Call the cupbearer, let him us attend!”
All drank as the pourer did descend.

13. “Listen, friends, justice makes me say:
I’m not alone in loving today-

14. Nor do I alone pine and sigh
For a maiden I court and glorify.

15. Each soul like mine has its dreams come true,
Each heart hopes for a love so true.

16. My friends, speak now of your passions boiling,
Reveal the names your hearts are roiling!”

17. Again they rose, each and every one,
Raising their cups in unison-

18. Drinking the secret of she
Who stirs them to love’s ecstasy.

19. One dashing lad did not comply,
His looks made watchers swoon and sigh.

20. He joined the first round of their imbibing,
But not the second, slyly grinning.

21. “And you?” his friends jeered and scoffed,
“Have you no darling we can toast?”

22. “Yes,” said he, “I drink to my heart’s devotion,
Who my soul saves, for her I’d die in ocean.

23. Her image in my heart engraved lies,
Naught, not even death, can it disguise.

24. Don’t doubt my sincerity, or suppose
I dissemble love under guile’s gloze.

25. Wealth disappears and youthfulness fades,
But my love and hers forever remains.

26. She gave me her soul completely and plain,
Not fearing I’d sacrifice it in vain.

27. The secret love you drink to, my friends,
However passionately professed or pends,

28. Is not like mine, matchless and peerless,
No equal in ardor, beyond all measure.”

29. They recoiled, as if bitten by snakes,
Their banquet’s joy his speech forsakes.

30. The ladies hissed “Shame!” and “Disgrace!
He has ruined the gathering’s grace!”

31. “If only he’d held his tongue in our midst,
No ears would have heard his words unmissed.”

32. The youths grasped their blades in that house
Anger flashed in eyes once mellow and doused.

33. The singer strummed his melodies no more,
The mansion churned with those troubles bore.

34. Some said “He is mad”, some said “Possessed!”
The host cried “Sir, pray, calm our unrest!

35. You described her yet did not name your fair maid,
Too shy to share passions displayed?”

36. The youth bowed his head, speaking no more,
Murmuring only: “Ummi, my core.”