Translation: By God, how many nights I have spent in the sweetness of life, apart from the watchman Drinking my wine with the beloved as my companion as the glasses of love’s joys go ’round I reached by goal, beyond whatever I had hoped Longing, though it be perfect, for this pleasure to stay…
Fire on the mountain
Ibn al-Fāriḍ Translation: Don’t consider me to be a pretender in love my affection for you is natural, without affectation Even if my spirit were in my hands, I would hand it over to the one who announces your arrival, and it’d still be a bargain You are my duties and my voluntary prayers…
It is love, so surrender
Ibn al-Fāriḍ Translation: It is love, so surrender your body—passion is not easy One stricken by it would not choose it, had he reason So live without it, for love’s ease is hard it’s beginning is sickness, and its end is death But for me, dying in love longingly for the one I love, is…
Don’t leave me…
Translation: Torture me as you will, but don’t stay away from me, and you will find me the most faithful of lovers, delighting in whatever pleases thee Who will take pity on me, and destroy my soul in love for this gazelle who, within every soul, are mingled her sweet qualities Whoever dies of love…
Did Lightning Flash?
Ibrahim Niasse Translation: Did lightning flash towards the meadows, gleaming? O grant me a person that when the lightning flashes, he weeps You only glimpse it weakly, woe to you, and you are inflamed with love And glistening tears are stilled in the hour of Life Recalling the days of youth which have passed And nothing remains…
Near and Far
Ibn al-Fāriḍ لكَ قُرْبٌ مِنّي ببُعدِكَ عنّي وحنوٌّ وجدتهُ في جفاكا … فَتراءيتَ في سِواكَ لِعَينٍ بكَ قَرّتْ، وما رأيتُ سِواكا وكذاكَ الخَليلُ قَلّبَ قَبْلي طرفهُ حينَ راقبَ الأفلاكا You have nearness with me in your distance from me … In other…
The Religion of Love
In addition to Ibn ‘Arabi’s famous poem (see this post), the “religion of love,” the root of all religion and worship beyond all distinctions and differentiations, plays an important role in other Sufi poetry, especially that of Rumi, Hafez, and Ibn al-Fariḍ: Rumi ملت عشق از همه دینها جداست عاشقان را ملت و مذهب خداست…
Like a Candle…
from Figs and Thistles: First Fig BY EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends— It gives a lovely light! Source: Poetry (June 1918). Hafez Translation: In faithfulness to your love, I am famous like the candle In…
Increase me in love for you…(version 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYM-uyAkrnA Translation: Give me an excess of love for you and wonder And have mercy on a heart scorched by a glance of your love And if I ask to see you truly Then allow me, graciously And let not your answer be, “Thou shalt not see“ O heart, you have promised me…
Love beyond words…
Ibn al-Fāriḍ In the art of describing his beauty, time itself expires and yet still there remains in him, what has not been described وعـلى تَـفَنّنِ واصِـفيهِ بِحُسْنِهِ يَـفنى الـزّمانُ وفيه ما لم يُوصف Anon. A robe woven from the cloth of 29 letters would still fall short of…