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The Wine-Bearer
Thy loosen'd tresses and thine eyes so blest,
Thy stately form with wine-cup at thy breast.
Since time began, no mortal yet hath seen
A heavenly nymph of such celestial mien.
'Tis dawn—seize now the fortune of this hour,
Lest like an arrow shot, thou lose thy power.
For love of union, heart and faith are lost,
And feet are torn by separation's frost.
No idol's love held dwelling in my breast,
Till thine was sealed therein from first behest.
Come, idol fair! Demand our souls away,
For broken heads make gifts of little stay.
O beauty rare! One kiss from lips bestow—
I'll pay thee back in kind, as lovers owe.
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Explanatory Footnotes:
loosen’d tresses – disheveled hair, symbol of beauty and enchantment.
wine-cup at thy breast – holding a goblet of wine near the chest, sign of grace and allure.
heavenly nymph – a houri, a celestial maiden from paradise.
celestial mien – a divine or heavenly appearance; wondrous beauty.
fortune of this hour – the fleeting chance of dawn, symbol of time passing.
arrow shot – like an arrow loosed from the bowstring: swift, irreversible.
union – spiritual or physical union with the beloved.
separation's frost – the cold pain or wounds caused by distance from the beloved.
first behest – the primordial covenant of love, sealed from eternity.
broken heads – metaphor for unworthy offerings of the self (life sacrificed).
gifts of little stay – offerings that cannot endure or satisfy.
bestow / owe – give a kiss, to be returned faithfully in kind, as true lovers do.
Copyright ©
Saeed Koushan
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