Sol 6.1

  1. Come, you two, let us fulfill our duty to the solitary sandy tract,

    by watering the mounts at the fount of rose-red tears.

  2. For on a slope like this a lover cools

    his breast by spilling tears where his mantle trails.

  3. We stood at al-ʿAmiriyya's dwelling, in a place

    where the free man surrenders his life's breath like a slave.

  4. Drunk, our eyes bewildered—so it was as though

    a diligent camel-driver had led us off the right path.

  5. And in the encampment were jealous men whose souls almost

    burst apart from rage against us and from rancor.

  6. And that was nothing but jealousy at our lodging

    with Layla in the place of honored guests among the visiting company.

  7. And when we recognized her scent, love exalted

    the fragrance of her dewy perfume above the rival's face.

  8. So we saw nothing but Arab faces,

    whose speech was unintelligible to Arabs through the intensity of rapture.

  9. And how many a burning liver struggles with what afflicts it,

    and a cheek's surface where tears have carved so many furrows!

  10. And how many a neck there, worthy of gazing upon, was not unadorned:

    we strung kisses upon it, necklace upon necklace.

  11. Nor was the gray dove left to lament alone

    by a youth saying, 'I alone am tormented by her.'

  12. And we died for her throughout life, while she appeared

    true to her pledge; the trace lies in the trace and the pledge.

  13. So whoever sees an escape from his annihilation—there is no

    escape from annihilation—may God guard you, O Saʿd.

  14. And whoever sees that distance from her kills—what

    I see is that death through nearness offers more hope than distance.

  15. Thus the One endures, to whose Face the meaning of permanence belongs,

    forever; and he whose permanence has a limit passes away.

Sol 6.1