1. O son of Musa, what does the Imam say
About a girl who dwells in my heart night and day

2. I pine for her love till my body's all skin and bone
And longing pants loud in my breast its mournful tone

3. Her glances at me are like arrows shot
From a Mongol's bow, as though leaden with shot

4. No traffic was ever between us before
Except lovers' letters and dreams and no more

5. O son of Musa, give me wine and leave Salma alone
For Salma is sacred; so let decorum be shown

6. Full many a cup like a torrent I've quaffed
And through them oblivion of grief I have saught

7. She pined in a mansion reserved for the vile
An unwilling prisoner all the while

8. She breathed a soft breath which gave new life to me
And split my bosom of its malady

9. It seemed when she came in sight of my love-rapt eye
As though in my mouth a parched bone split and cracked

10. Her appearance overwhelmed me till both my eyes
Showed inward confusion, while my joints went lax

11. Then my limbs were enlivened by wine once again
But the speech of my members grew silent and strained

12. A hero who drinks liquor, spending his pelf,
May walk without shame, though not lord of himself

13. His coin he so lavished on wine without end
That from loss upon loss did his wealth descend

14. The bright one forsook him, though still for her sake
His eyes were sleepless whenas she might awake

15. He moaned o'er a cup, then one more would demand
Till wine had prevailed and got quite out of hand

16. I had a boon fellow the days swept away
And "Peace be upon him" is all I can say

17. Like horses well-bred, in their sinews no pain,
No brands on their flanks, and no halt in their gait

18. O son of Musa, when a loved friend is lost
'Tis a smart in one's eye and a sickness at most

19. How can life joyful for me ever be
When dear boon companions lie under the tree?

20. Upon them grim death swooped and clutched them away
And so in deep slumber they silently lay

21. No gluing my eyes on them eases my grief
For mourning hearts solace alone is in brief