1. You heard me recite melancholy verse
That stirs up pain in those who hear it.

2. It faded away and mumbled into the stillness of
The night. God, what makes it woeful?

3. Then in the corner of my eye I hid a tear
Propriety willed that I conceal it.

4. I said your eyelashes hold the wine of maidens
It is your elixir you veil from me.

5. Not the wine of cups, no matter how aged,
Like the wine of a heart you squeeze.

6. You pour poetry and joy from the eye
While in the soul other than what you pour.

7. In it are signs of deep sorrow
And symbols from woeful nights.

8. The revelers drank long from the wine jug
And each was as forgetful as his brother.

9. The melody of strings blends with the wine
A draft more gentle than its drinkers.

10. I said my mind has a terrible emptiness
So squeeze in it the joy of its drinkers.

11. She turned from me eyes drunk
And turned to me a woeful heart.

12. And melted from her lashes an intoxicant
Sorrows drank in both our eyes.

13. Then she said, you've known the love of harlots
So you compose torment in debauched verse.

14. I saw all you harbored
When she turned from me and turned to me.

15. A newborn appeared in the flutter of night
Upon him a blanket from his father.

16. He peered from the hut window as dawn
Delivered morning to those awake.

17. I said, what are you thinking? She said,
Of the stillness of night and what comes after.

18. The gazelles arched their necks from the desert thicket
And their glances melted with dew.

19. The maidens awoke from their slumber
Perplexed, and the lovers awoke.

20. The revelers waved their hands
And with a wink of the eye, the lovers.

21. All awoke from the intoxication of wine
Even hopes and passions awoke.

22. I said, what are you thinking? She said,
Of an oasis - passion's sorcery on its people.

23. In an oasis you taught me love until
I adored you, became one of your lovers.

24. So I remembered the past and said to my heart
She still loves you there.

25. Oh dawn, beloved of the woeful
And torch of love and youth.

26. Oh shore, blissful with
The tales of lovers and friends.

27. Oh hut and drunken eyes
With wines unmingled with torment.

28. Do not stir my heart, nothing remains in it
Of the past's structure but rubble.

29. We left before I disappeared
From the shore's beauty and its dwellers.

30. I said to the woman who pained me
When she said "God, what makes it woeful?"

31. "I have a heart you emptied, so leave it
Empty in love, do not refill it."