Vol. 4

I am in love with your face — if you do not know, then know. Despite rivals, chains, slander, and deceit, I will come to your lane; if the rival dies of envy, I will plant a kiss on your face.

A Rumi ghazal of spiritual counsel: separation from companions is not wise, self-centeredness is not wise, poverty when the heavenly table has arrived is not wise. The poem ends in dissolution — be silent, dissolve into the Real.

What do you want from my soul — you left, without you I died; I was faithful for a lifetime, alas you were faithless; how many nights without you — where were you? You took my heart and left — go, you are not lacking a lover.

O Camel Driver, Go Slowly — Saadi's great ghazal of the departing caravan, asking the driver to slow so the speaker can catch one last sight of the beloved being carried away.

She Has Dark Eyes, I Am Sacrificed — the dark-eyed beloved of Afghan and Persian lyric tradition, the speaker declaring complete surrender. Eyes as the weapon that undoes the speaker's resistance.

O my delicate idol — why are you angry? Do you want my life — I will give it; do you give me poison — I will take it; the sky was astonished at my former power, now I am helpless before you.

Lament, O my turbulent heart — my companion has fled tonight; others make drunken laughter, I make drunken weeping; since she is no longer beside me, my house is dark; the step of death draws near.