1. You aroused tears I never thought would flow,
In dwellings strangers made desolate when they overran them.

2. When I saw the houses empty and forlorn
I fancied them inscribed with lessons plain to see.

3. So I let fall the tears that started to my eyes
As, after those who lived there, I too mourned their fate.

4. My soul deserves to grieve and grieve again
And sever, after love, all love's remaining ties.

5. Let him who suffers long make tears his occupation;
Tomorrow his tears will seem his consolation and his faith.

6. Did you not see that Time has conquered us and made
The doves that were our neighbors wild birds flying free,

7. Made them wild birds that borrowed from the roe her looks
And from the red deer his eyes and brow serene,

8. While the soft light of Scorpio glowed in their lips
And the raven lent the branches his dark green.

9. The stars of Naua gave me of desire my fill,
To forbid me the gentle union that I crave.

10. When dawn began to break I rose perplexed, distracted
By the soft voices of the birds that broke my rest.

11. I put aside for them the love I bore for you
And turned to one whose office is men's praise to sing,

12. Who has a treasure-store of lovely verse and prose
Which, with his wisdom, he disposes line by line;

13. And if he seeks a cloak for envious men to wear,
He fashions one of fur to rout the wild beasts' rage.

14. O noble one of generous soul, no niggard you,
Nature designed you to be open-handed, frank and kind.

15. Today I have a favor that I seek from you,
Knowing you grant whatever favor one requests.

16. It is—spare Shaykh Ahmad, blame him not in verse however wild,
Make excuse for him, see how he may be excused.

17. He stirred up hatred in his envy and his hate,
Though men had been endeavoring to avoid all stir.

18. If he arouses anger, bear in mind that he
Must drink the bitter cup—such is his destiny.

19. My wish to make excuse for him was not mere love,
Sincere good will it was, when he forgot his faith.

20. My soul is sure that you will not deny its plea.
Confirm its certainty: do not prolong the strife!

21. You have surpassed the meteors in your soaring,
And no ascent excels your rising flight.

22. Your gifts encompass all the lands, and gifts like yours
Will never soar again to such a height.

23. Because of my anxiety I had let my carrier pigeons go,
And all but cast away my cherished birds;

24. I let my carrier pigeons go and so was left without
The cooing I had known before to stir my heart.

25. I heard a dove call mournfully and stir
Yearning for past encampments and past friends.

26. The doves' soft moan aroused my grief
And longing for the friends of former days.

27. Those friends I pledged to cherish and uphold
When I was delicately nurtured in my youth.

28. He who would see me break the pledges of my youth
Would find it hard indeed to turn me from my path.

29. I fancied I could trace beloved lines
Like moles on arms or beauty-spots thereon.

30. How many a shower we loved in days gone by,
As Tuzum's raindrops pattered on the roof!

31. How many a lovely form has charmed my sight,
As the fascinator charms the passion-maddened heart!

32. Converse with them has been my soul's delight,
Gazelles, wild cows, all winged and footed things.

33. Whoever views those charms I keep enshrined
Must pierce veils to come at the beloved within.

34. When it casts off the veil that hides the face
It shines in brightness like the shining moon.

35. You may observe within the lips and cheeks
Flashes of radiance and serenity.

36. It has a mouth that mocks the brightness
Of Scorpio with its bend and curve.

37. It shows you, when it smiles, threads of sharp pearls,
And breasts like pomegranates crowned upon the bough.