1. The abode of love and yearning song,
Ruins where hearts are wont to throng,

2. Stones like bangles, thin, apart,
Dwelling-places of the constant heart.

3. You promised and kept procrastinating,
Till age declined and vigour waning;

4. Hair turned grey where black it lay,
But grey hair wins no path to way.

5.
To blamers we paid no heed,

6. Kept faith, were staunch in word and deed,
Quaffing, as ‘twere milk freely given,

7. Wine of honour, neath open heaven.
When the skin-bag at last we burst,

8. In seemly wise, without hate or thirst,
We squeezed it with gentle compression,

9. As the suckling is pressed in session.
Choice wine it gave us, to gladness bent.

10. To him that pours in open tent,
It flies on steeds past control,

11. Their tails like pine-trees, necks like pole.
But a brimmer oft idly spilled

12. Mocks the cup-bearer, taste unfilled.
All similes it transcended,

13. Towards me aspiring, me befriended.
Presumption had I to accost,

14. What the fearful ne’er made their boast,
Leaving sleep and dream behind

15. To embrace a moon that paled light.
Sheltered there ‘neath those fingers ten,

16. I reaped fruits of untrammelled ken,
While soft cheeks in graceful union

17. Soothed me with cups of sweet communion.
A gazelle, nimble, bright of face,

18. Slender waist and curve of grace,
Whose pomegranates mere hands could pluck

19. From the branch-tips at a tender touch.
Oh promised one, lest I intrude,

20. Draw gently on my heart, subdued.
Rage do not breathe at grievance borne,

21. Power have I none, by oath forsworn.
Give willingly what you refuse,

22. Take gently what I do not choose.