1. What ails this virgin nature, so wrathful,
As if she had made a vow she was bound to fulfill?

2. She flashed, then thundered, then unleashed
Her burden to spread widely across the plain.

3. She crammed every crevice and made free
With the parapets of houses row after row.

4. A gentle, lisping dust of the still of night
That the gloom was pleased to heal.

5. It was as though the clouds were raising up
Ceilings over the green mountains,

6. And showers of rain scattering fragrance
And warmth—a generosity from the clouds.

7. And it was as though the waves were sharpening their hearing
And singing their songs, melody after melody.

8. It rose as high as it pleased, then gleamed
With wings about to unfold.

9. Layer after layer then clears away
With gaps between, then more layers form.

10. And the sky's expanse took shapeless form
Too vague for eyes until it cleared away.

11. Then it was adorned with the most wondrous sights
Beauty itself had chosen for their charm.

12. A dream the eye could not behold in full
Beyond words to describe however they might strive.

13. I walked spellbound, bringing the world to life
Anew in creation, scattering, twining.

14. Nature stripped naked, marveling,
Then hid in a glance of its shadow.

15. Then it cast the green of fronds over it
And pelted it with leaves, leaves after leaves.

16. And hoopoes like sprites, their robes
Rustling with visions, plaits and braids.

17. The universe was transformed, and huge
Rocks seemed delicate, sheer delicate.

18. And it was as though life terrified
Half the heavens while gratifying the other half.

19. And it was as though the hills shuddered in fear
And the mountains crawled, crawling ahead.

20. And it was as though the clouds were weakened
To a fraction of their size, diminished, shrunk.

21. Massifs pulsating with life, summits
In their ridges, but seeming smooth, sheer smooth.

22. Dawn rose above Furna adding
Its mysterious charm, an added charm.

23. And the sandy shore enjoyed the carpet,
Walking with gentle tread, lightly stepping.

24. Marveling, wiping away the dew,
As morning, bright morning, waved its greeting.

25. A line of cormorants from Zanj withdrew,
Selecting of its stars the most elite.

26. And the sea rushed tempestuously, pounding the coast,
I thought it would hide itself completely.

27. My friend, a radiant face, and a glass
Blended in its purity, sipped

28. I drink it brimming with the wine of joy
And spread on the lips, a taste spread.

29. Then drowsiness crept into us, weighing down
The eyelids and clearing the soul, trembling the palms.

30. Oh blend of a thousand universes, be gentle,
For on your arms a universe slumbers.

31. Beauty is slain—how hard on the eye
Its clarity, how subtle and slight.

32. It dazzles the soul ... no measure contains
What it surpasses ... what it attains.

33. You are Aphrodite, a wisp of flesh
On bone that seemed about to be revealed.

34. Art formed of you an image of perfect grace,
Gentleness and passion mixed, blended.

35. The bosom thrust forward rousing
The breasts to gracious response fluttering.

36. The fawns close together then wheeling apart,
Inciting, igniting, scarcely still.

37. And a bend, a hollow concealing
An expanse, a turn, a glimpse behind.

38. My friend, do not let a friend disturb you
Whose spirit gloomy nights have weighed down.

39. He is deprived of pleasurable life, so he steals
Pleasure from it, seizing it where he finds it.

40. He grabs the spring between your lips, fearing
The promise of that spring once sealed will vanish.

41. A true promise—yet every loyal promise is
Other than it ... many times it mocks hopes.

42. In my blood is revolt against death, enough
To make it cease, if that were possible.

43. How sweet is life, if not for the endings
Of feared journeys, filled with dread and murk.

44. Life passes, however much it is needed,
Like a lamp in the black night extinguished.

45. Would that death—since it cannot be avoided—
Were but an illness to heal us afterward,

46. So man could find life after it even sweeter
And the gifts of life more delicious and pure.

47. Nonsense ... Though man lives a thousand years
To be scattered at last as dust and nullified.

48. Why then the flowers, the spring, the music
Like the coo of doves, sweet modulated cooing?

49. And why the snow, the winter, and scent
Of embers whose heat penetrates to the bones?

50. And why the summer, bare, demanding
The dues of souls, stripped bare and exposed?

51. Would that death were like punishment
From the skies, clawing and flaying us!

52. Are we close relatives, disfigured, offered
To the wrathful god as kith and kin?

53. Or are we artifacts our delusions
Lead to expect the final blow?

54. Or are we but marionettes deftly manipulated
However their maker wills, destroys or creates?

55. Or on this wondrous sphere of the unseen
Are there watchers entertaining themselves

56. By living the lifetime of stars and taking
From life what cannot suffice?

57. My friend ... what is tomorrow, and nights
Are fruit craved then snatched away?

58. Today scoffs at tomorrow, supine, careless
Of all that concerns it, neglects.

59. It is hoped for and feared, none can know
Will morning be born of it or will it die?

60. You are Aphrodite, here, filling
The hearing, the sight, the feelings with charm.

61. I reveled in your eyes, gazing,
And speech—letters paired with letters.

62. A wrap you donned—what color it had!
And a braid you plaited, how plaited!

63. And how many memories passion has preserved
For you, lasting, enriching, fulfilling!