Sol 5.6

  1. Thunder sobs, and lightning blazes.

    Rain pours down, and the water churns.

  2. The meadow smiles, and the flowers array themselves.

    The sun unveils herself at times, then veils herself.

  3. Clouds stretch their pavilion across the horizon.

    Birds whistle, and strings ring in tumult.

  4. The air wanders distraught, like a lover checked by his wasting away.

    His tears stream down, urged onward by anguish.

  5. Every waterwheel in the garden has begun to groan,

    like a graceful maiden shaken by rapture in her drunkenness.

  6. The rose laughs, and the gillyflower spreads abroad,

    as though it were jewels being plundered upon the earth.

  7. Jasmine, like pearls, is scattered

    by the branches over the jewel-like flowers of the hills.

  8. As though the Barzī narcissus, when it appears

    upon the boughs, were silver filled with gold.

  9. We have an ancient wine in the jars,

    dating from before ages and epochs were known.

  10. A virgin wine whom calamity’s designs have never touched,

    nor have misfortunes ever approached her with harm.

  11. Water was first the substance of her embodiment,

    with sun and shade and breezes and grapes.

  12. So delicate, she almost vanishes when poured

    from the vessel she is in, even as she pours.

  13. In the cup of the one who passes her round, she seems

    spirit and body: this is light, and that is flame.

  14. Her appearance scatters cares and sorrows

    from every lover worn down by grief and sickness.

  15. When mixed, she gleams like a rose greeted at dawn

    by dew, as bubbles bead her in her cup.

  16. We have a singer whose very countenance suffices in place of his song,

    and who bears refinement within himself.

  17. He sings and ravishes hearts with delight,

    untouched by vanity or conceit.

  18. Rise, then, to the repose of spirits, and revel in it:

    life passes on, and fortune turns.

  19. Cast off your bridle amid pleasures, while calamities

    are heedless of you; be merry while play is possible.

  20. Seize the dark clouds, and drink beneath their majesty,

    while their trailing canopy sweeps along the earth.

Sol 5.6