Desert of Love
Before thee, flowers hold no grace,
Where ruby shines not as the lips' own face.
Though flawed, yet thoughts of union dwell,
I seek a lover, whose beauty casts its spell.
From patient heart, my steadfast will thou took’st,
And suddenly alone, my soul thou forsook’st.
Within love’s desert I wander lost, my dear,
And from thy thorny grief my feet are seared.
In longing for thy visage, tears do stream,
Like flowing waters near that precious gleam.
Each soul that longs for union, like a flame,
Burns every part of themselves in thy name.
O hope of lovers in the tavern’s hall!
From thy fair visage lift the veil, and call.
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Explanatory Footnotes:
flowers hold no grace – Flowers seem insignificant or lack beauty compared to the beloved
ruby / lips' own face – Refers to the red, radiant color of the beloved’s lips
Though flawed – Indicates the speaker is guilty, imperfect, or “tardaman” (metaphorically sinful)
thoughts of union dwell – The persistent longing and fantasies of being united with the beloved
I seek a lover, whose beauty casts its spell – The speaker desires a beloved whose beauty is enchanting from head to foot
patient heart / steadfast will – The lover’s enduring patience and resilience
forsook’st – Suddenly abandoning or leaving the lover alone
love’s desert – A metaphorical “wilderness” of love; a difficult, endless emotional landscape
thorny grief / feet are seared – The pain and hardships of love that wound the lover, like walking on thorns
tears do stream / flowing waters near that precious gleam – The lover is in deep sorrow and longing, comparing tears to a flowing river; “precious gleam” = the beloved’s presence or face
burns every part of themselves in thy name – The lover sacrifices or consumes themselves in devotion to the beloved, like a burning candle
tavern’s hall / lift the veil – The tavern symbolizes a place of love or meeting; “lifting the veil” refers to revealing oneself or making the beloved visible
visage – The beloved’s face or countenance
Copyright ©
Saeed Koushan
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