1. I complained of distress and suffering,
Immersed in thought and boredom.

2. So I walked on, not knowing where,
And my feet took me wherever they would.

3. I saw with my eyes a place of joy,
Prepared to delight people.

4. Where beauty's masterpieces appear,
And amusement of all kinds is sold.

5. Colored with strange hues,
Lit up brilliantly with lights.

6. I hurried there, my sight
Like a moth craving light.

7. I entered, passing through crowds
Of people in droves and multitudes.

8. I swam in a sea, stormy,
With human waves, surge after surge.

9. They lost their calm when enthralled,
Their din was like the sea's roar.

10. When settled for a moment, they clamored,
Unable to restrain their wonder.

11. Jumping up, their ranks tilting,
Necks craning, inflamed.

12. Clapping, hands shooting up
Like bursting sea foam.

13. Why not riot today like they do?
Why not try what they love?

14. Why not shout out their cries today?
Why not clamor as they do?

15. Why don't my lips taste their cups?
Revelry is poison and destroys me.

16. My philosophy and dignity,
My composure and serious thought,

17. Are in debt to Satan. Oh heart, you're confined,
Yet here is open space, though fettered.

18. You say life is wasted,
What have you done with your precious life?

19. You see bare legs,
And bosoms like pigeons soaring.

20. You find roving eyes of desire
Who is this beauty, my eyes?

21. Magic crowned and shaded her.
Like a bird, from branch to branch,

22. My heart fluttered for her.
You see beauty not false,

23. Not an illusion made by light.
Increasing her charm and strangeness,

24. Sorrow lurks behind beauty.
She disappeared, while people watched her

25. And importuned her return relentlessly.
She is sensual pleasure they seek,

26. While I, in my spirit, try to understand her.
I saw her late night,

27. With young men who had set traps for her.
Age's sorrow shaded her like a shadow,

28. A pitiful pretense of laughter.
So I left hastily, and said my lady,

29. You adorned the dance halls beautifully.
Will you allow now, my sorceress,

30. My admiration, over two cups?
But she refused, though I persisted

31. With words, tempting and apologizing.
She made amends, said meet me tomorrow,

32. If you wish, but today I must refuse.
She turned from me to her company,

33. Between expectant and hopeful.
A seducer who lures with her smile,

34. And makes dates with dignity.
The meeting came, I headed out,

35. Fearing a deceptive mirage from her.
Impatiently slowing time,

36. Asking my watch repeatedly about her.
Dismissing the eye of suspicion, turning,

37. Looking to the door, confused.
And saying, who knows, what lad

38. Has her now in his arms?
Who believes a beauty's promise,

39. Without pity destroying souls,
A female who meets every moment

40. A man, and makes promises by the thousands?
I decided, after despairing, to leave,

41. When suddenly she sashayed into view.
I recognized her by her youthful vigor,

42. And her tall figure I'd ransom my soul for.
Oh, the hearts at a meeting of two

43. Who don't know why,
Brought together by fate while strangers,

44. Then intimate in a wondrous privacy.
Wondrous, a heart whose hope

45. Was a thrill, but the matter turned out differently.
The strongest bonds in the whole world

46. Are those of sorrow between hearts.
Who are you, whose spirit approached mine,

47. And addressed my tears?
You poured them in my cup, and spilled

48. Nothing but the sighs of one slaughtered.
Wondrous, how in a moment we

49. Became alike with no effort.
Yesterday I met you, were we

50. Two merging souls in eternity?
Tell me of sickness and night,

51. Describe the baseness of this world.
I saw your misery up close,

52. And felt your suffering pulse alive.
Don't conceal your inner secrets,

53. Speak of how sorrow has decreed.
I see no sin or shame,

54. But see a woman who's suffered.
You find your thoughts are distant,

55. While people judge you by your youth.
You see yourself uniquely situated,

56. While the crowds are beyond counting.
You see that wherever you've been,

57. You satisfy vile deceivers.
Who want just a body, and if you sell it,

58. Pay money and give generous amounts.
How bitter are the tears you've shed,

59. From eyes darkened with kohl.
And the torment of a loneliness that stretched on,

60. And an unknown yearning for the unknown.
You wasted your life seeking him,

61. Boredom almost consuming your soul,
But when one you're amazed by appears,

62. You say: here at last is hope.
You made your heart suffer approaching him,

63. A loyal heart is softened by its blood.
When you thought you had snared him,

64. Another won him who does not understand him.
She fell silent, amazed at our solitude

65. That stretched on as if we were lovers.
I say, what bliss is our delight!

66. Wine has overwhelmed me and the cupbearer.
I'd sacrifice myself for you crying and mourning,

67. Wrapped in the night's garb.
The sun said farewell, departed,

68. It went, leaving me with the wound and afterglow.
You go, not knowing how I've grown to love you

69. As you disappear into the gloom.
A soul, if it sins, is cleansed

70. By two fires: the fire of patience and pain.