Sol 5.6

  1. God bless those people, garden-like in their smiling warmth,

    their faces radiant—noble, generous, good.

  2. They alighted in Jillaq in autumn, and it became

    like spring, wreathed all around in light.

  3. They summoned the stars of the winecups, and in they came,

    suns among them, escorted in procession by moons:

  4. each one a maiden, her brow jasmine,

    her glance magic and narcissus—bewitchment itself.

  5. Among them was one who, if she cast aside her veil

    at night, daylight would surely dawn amid the darkness.

  6. She favored me with monastery wine,

    golden—its hue the dinar itself would envy.

  7. Until, just as it was about to alight in my courtyard

    and its gold come to rest between my hands,

  8. they said, “Layla has gone far away.” I told my companion,

    “No wine remains to me now but tears.”

Sol 5.6