1. The beauty of Laila's perfect grace,
For me is life's sole aim and resting place.

2. But for my love of Laila, ne'er had I
Thought to hurl my soul to Hijaz' open sky.

3. My pride's enough - that I Laila still love,
Though other loves should come, I'd not remove

4. This longing that to me is ever near,
In absence or in presence, far or near.

5. Love's right is that no other love impose
On that first love its rights and wrongs and woes.

6. So patience, O my Laila, I will keep,
And back unto my thoughts of love I creep,

7. Can any heart forget that once adored,
And dwelt on with passion and deeds outpoured?

8. I will keep my love for you intact,
Though from you now I suffer in the act.

9. Can time wipe out the love still in my heart?
Or nullify pain's all consuming smart?

10. Your thought at parting brought my tears anew,
Turned me to flowing streams, like wax in flame.

11. Your love, your love, both far and near
Torments me ever, with its bite and sear.

12. Your memory shakes me when alone,
And 'mid the thronging crowds, I'm overthrown.

13. And when your lips once touched me in the dark,
My body quivered like a trembling spark.

14. Again your love brought back my youthful fire,
Your sweetness was my only heart's desire.

15. How can I bear, O Laila, to depart?
To leave my love would break my weary heart!

16. When spoken is the word, the tears descend,
My soul runs like a candle at its end.

17. To part from you, O Laila, is too dear!
You are my all, as I to you appear.

18. O Laila, you're my spirit's prop and stay,
My heart's own core, my sight's unending ray.

19. How can a body bear to part with soul?
Or soul endure when body leaves its whole?

20. Sweet Laila, still I seek to win your love,
And be your own, by dawn or dusk's dim gloam.

21. When we so joined, how can I now unlace
Our binding love, and leave its sure embrace?

22. O noble Laila, how many a night
I've whiled away, held in your love's delight!

23. And many a time for you I've braved the wave,
And traveled far, your favor sweet to crave.

24. O noble Laila, how often for your love
I've chided camels on, though dark above!

25. My friends beside me, in the dark and drear,
While lightning flashed, and thunder crashed in fear!

26. And I've returned, my skin soaked in the rain,
That far-flung desert heat and thirst to drain.

27. I've found your arms, your sheltering love anew,
And there discovered love's sweet binding too.

28. O God! Make Laila's love my happy fate!
For your great love I've learned to hope and wait.

29. To you I've come, though still sin's stain remains,
Like filthy garb, or blood from opened veins.

30. My efforts here cannot my goal obtain,
Though high my hopes your heaven sweet to gain.

31. Vile deeds have shamed me, left me broken here,
Though still for your redemption I hope and fear.

32. To you I flee, though still sin's stain abides,
And come to you, in fear my face I hide.

33. My vileness cannot lessen your great name,
Nor raise my hopes beyond what you ordain.

34. When vileness flees to goodness' gentle heart,
It grants forgiveness, though stained from its part.

35. I bear my sins, and hasten to your grace,
Still hopeful though, despite my formal place.

36. Should you not pardon me, to whom else, pray,
Can I now turn to wash my sins away?

37. So now I fear you, yet in hope delight,
Sure in your mercy as the morning's light.

38. If you but pardon me, what grace is shown!
If you should punish me, I've earned your frown.

39. For you are good, and I am stained with ill,
Let not my vileness all your mercy kill.

40. O God! Forgive this humbled soul its sin,
Though needing you, to you it did not flee.

41. When sin's recalled, in tears does it now ache,
Branded by you, its body seems to break.

42. I hope your kindness will forgive my stain,
And I'll remain protected and made sane.