1. I have suffered from the blamers' rebuke and censure,
Which has pierced my body and pained my eyes.

2. I know not if it was my passion or their reproof
That has filled my heart with overwhelming pain.

3. Do not blame me, reproachers, for this blame,
For the matter is not as you claim.

4. Leave me to shed the tears from my eyes
And feel the sorrow from time to time.

5. Fate has amputated my right hand,
And soon afflicted my left hand too.

6. I am patient, though the human in my eyes
Is tempted by the tricks of fate. Enough!

7. My body has endured, and my heart
Has joined ranks against the criticizers.

8. My eyes, let your tears flow,
As fate spares no tear unshed.

9. Yesterday it glorified me,
But today it shames me with precious gifts.

10. So it has left my chamber desolate
And made my earthly abode a ruin.

11. A branch grew in the soil of glory,
And for a time blossomed beautifully and gently,

12. But soon after it had shone for a while,
And delighted all who saw it,

13. Whenever I was reminded of it,
I would weep and ache from missing it.

14. What we had forgotten has gone,
But what we remember returns to grieve us.

15. I buried it in the dust of graves
And now endure the pain of loss.

16. For seven years now
I have counted the months and years for it.

17. I saw in it the signs of perfection
And thought it would be intelligent and wise.

18. But when its destiny gave me glad tidings
That my hopes for it would be fulfilled,

19. And proofs arose of what I had perceived,
Confirming my suspicions entirely,

20. Fate struck it down with an arrow
When I least feared that fate.

21. So I started sprinkling dust over it
When just before I had held it dear.

22. In adversities, whom can I blame
When sorrow and grief have deserted me?

23. And who can comfort me in the night of woes
As they pass slowly by in the darkness?

24. Say to these nights now that you have attained your goal,
And fulfilled what we wished of you,

25. Yesterday I had two eyes
With which I saw sights that delighted my eyes,

26. But with your arrow you have blinded
My right eye, and soon my left eye too.

27. I have sat in blindness since dawn,
With my white days showing me nothing.

28. And think not that when I complained
I was helpless and frail.