1. They said, your lover endured patiently,
The one saying this knew not what he spoke,

2. When he meant to say passion, his tongue tripped
And uttered 'patience' instead in its place.

3. And yes, I poured passion forth when he was true,
And yes, I was patient when he betrayed.

4. The critic of passion came to admonish,
But love insisted though he forbade.

5. Pass by, O critic, and let all others be,
For I and you are but vigils and wakefulness.

6. Read not the critic his homily,
For you have read the verses of difference.

7. Your tears, they say, left no vision untouched,
Did you ever hear a lover had sight?

8. By my parents, when they say he was captivated,
It means his gazelle took him captive.

9. The moon of my heart found joy in playing,
How true said the beautiful one, 'the moon.'

10. You exhausted my body, O beautiful one,
While the body is but flax and you the moon.

11. When I cried you laughed in rapture,
And composed verses from what the lover scattered.

12. O you who poured forth my tears but forbade them,
Enough for me and you - you took, so leave off.

13. Evil you are, O beauty of the beloved,
For my blood is spilt like pouring tears.

14. You cast me from his loss in purpose,
And stoned me from his heart with rocks.

15. I embraced him at dawn and vanished in passion,
As if to him my embrace was but sorcery.

16. And I kissed beneath his eyes in my fervor -
His eyes - or did I make a mark therein?

17. And my tears flowed above his cheeks -
As if a stream from the Garden I made appear.

18. I interceded for the gazelles when they came,
Seeking a Houri as gift from his eyes.

19. The full moon paled seeing him so fair,
While the lover but gazed in delight.

20. The red sun shied in shame of his cheek,
Claiming that was but his guard's blushing.

21. She veiled herself in the west when he appeared,
And wrapped herself in clouds when he traveled.

22. Alas for the branch whose blossom is ever
Morn and night and bud and hair.

23. Morn and night that lingered between them -
O the witty one is like sorcery indeed!

24. Hair like the night of union with the beloved -
Beautiful, but lacking a palace.

25. The comb complains of the length of his tresses,
And also complains of his journey far.

26. O wonder for the night that was brought to be
For creation in you, and for knotting of pearls.

27. By Allah, an evening like springtime that passed,
And spring is but a garden, and beauty, flowers.

28. Time is near with no malice within it,
And living pleasant with no bitterness.

29. Days when the necklace of joy is threaded,
So the day is a string and cups but pearls.

30. The book of your generosity in union - not an instance
Of the poetry of separation in it appears.

31. I recalled him while the wine cup was in my hand,
So I drank to your union with that memory.