1. Alas, say to the passionate lover
Who judges things superficially

2. Do you consider the menstruating woman impure
Saying for ages “I am not clean”

3. To the pure one free of every flaw as though
He descended upon a fresh betel-nut branch

4. With the eyelids of a fawn and the cheeks of youth
And the gait of a tyrant and the hatred of an unbeliever

5. Upon the likes of this one I seek help with prayer beads
And the habit of my brother monk and fruits of the dissolute

6. And powdering my face with dust as if I
Were a messenger come from the people of graves