Sol 6

  1. He resembled a young gazelle grazing among my ribs.

    And a branch of the sandhill swayed in the garden of my heart.

  2. I spread my cheek on the ground for him, laying it down.

    A beloved saw my abasement when I came submissively.

  3. Yet he turned away from me, far from reconciliation.

    Sleeplessness has tormented his lover’s eyes.

  4. And a fire of passion still burns in his heart.

    He sees my illness, though he knows its cure.

  5. I longed to win nearness to him.

    And for him to grant me union, but he gave no such gift.

  6. Sick, with the sword of separation having cut his heart in two.

    Whenever he seeks union, he seeks the thing he desires.

  7. When he shunned me and I lamented his distance,

    I swore an oath that I would never forget his love.

  8. Truly, I have no freedom to break my oath.

    I see tears streaming from my eyes down my cheek.

  9. And the bond of my passion within my breast has been severed.

    At night it troubles me whenever it sings:

  10. A dove that keeps sleep from my eyes

    When it calls to its mate between Rāma and the hillside.

  11. And when the caravan singer urged the camels on at dawn and murmured his song,

    I remembered a life once lived in that protected place.

  12. I say, while tears from my eyes stream down my cheek:

    May God protect the people of that place and water its ground

  13. With the downpour of my tears, enough to replace flowing water.

    I lost my patience when their she-camels departed.

  14. My chest tightened as their journey pressed on.

    They were full moons, but on the day of departure they waned.

  15. I had thought our union would last, until their parting

    Struck my eyelids and innermost heart with sleeplessness and wounds.

  16. Do they have no knowledge of what the heart conceals?

    They showed no mercy to one who spent the night gnashing his teeth.

  17. He seeks a meeting, but distance defeats his hopes.

    I feared their turning away, though I never said that it

  18. Would come to such a pass when it began in jest.

    May God care for one who did not honor my right to companionship.

  19. Though my affection was sincere and loving,

    I call to them in overwhelming grief and distress.

  20. Life is forbidden to me after my loved ones

    Cast into my heart a fire of longing without striking a spark.

  21. I die of longing, then come alive at their remembrance.

    And I hide what I endure to safeguard their secret.

  22. They struck me with the arrow of betrayal, besides their treachery.

    The sword of my patience was blunted by the armor of their abandonment.

  23. The visible sickness of love needs no explanation.

    My reproacher, leave me; I have lost all delight.

  24. You can never save me from separation.

    When the sweet fragrance of that place blows toward us,

  25. We urge our mounts onward, striving toward the one

    Whom we have made our capital for attaining victory and gain.

  26. Through him al-Aqsa Mosque and its precincts shone.

    And his ascent reached the seven layered heavens.

  27. Love for him and following him are incumbent upon us.

    His praise is sweet to me, and hearing it gives pleasure.

  28. So my tongue never tires of praising him.

    Generous, with noble deeds and bounty in his hands.

  29. Without him, we would not have known a guide to the truth.

    He rose to a station beyond all limits and bounds.

  30. A guardian, he called us from error to guidance,

    As one finds the way from night’s darkness by the dawn.

  31. Through him I was saved when I took the clear path.

    And I crossed seas and depths of ardent love.

  32. Through it I praised the one sent to humanity as a proof.

    His face resembled the radiant sun in splendor.

  33. And his fragrance was like musk as it spread and unfolded.

    Whoever has visited the resting place of a master has surely prospered.

  34. And has attained every aim from the Lord of the heights.

    Without him, we would not hear the call to prayer in a mosque.

  35. I gave thanks for hearing praise of Muhammad.

    That is the path of truth, right guidance, and success.

  36. A blaze burns for us, while idolatry faded before his light.

    So they enjoyed neither a pleasant life nor a sweet drink.

  37. For him banners are unfurled in east and west.

    He defended our faith with sharp swords and blades.

  38. And God’s help came, announcing victory.

    A guide to his community, full of affection.

  39. The waters of generosity flow from his giving hand.

    Through him we prevailed with honor over every aggressor.

  40. We performed the pilgrimage and visited the grave of the finest master.

    He guided us by counsel to the paths of guidance.

  41. His supporters and defenders took pride in him.

    They gloried in him when his miracles appeared.

  42. Noble in character, he fulfills his promises.

    Forbearing, with pure morals and qualities.

  43. He grants the ignorant person pardon and forgiveness.

    Tender and compassionate, he possessed knowledge and eminence.

  44. The highest honor is his; he remains upon the path of guidance.

    By his lights, one finds the way out of night’s darkness.

  45. My longing for him remains forever.

    I spend both night and day absorbed in my yearning for him.

  46. By his law, hearts grow calm and find guidance.

    They come alive and attain exalted bliss.

  47. A prophet honored with the finest birth.

    We urged the she-camels of longing toward Muhammad.

  48. And we said: perhaps we may glimpse the light.

Sol 6