Arab Book Caravan

 I spoke to the moon of what my heart can endure, And of that which passion and hope possess. And the moon melted from her extreme beauty, And lay in the valley, pondering what to do. Its disc shimmered with the light of her presence, With jewels adorning her lips and her eyes. I said, “O Moon, I converse with you of longing, For there is nothing to my whispers but burning logs.” And those are but rays of her joy, For what do you know of her intoxication and kisses? And what do you know when her fragrance moves me, So that I am intoxicated seventy times over, without dispute? My words falter in describing her beauty, And the scales of love are unbalanced and falter. Her gaze slaughters me openly, From which the secrets of my heart bleed and conceal. And her smile burns me with a fire, Like the sun in its ascension, imploring. Like an arrow, in the heart, whispers her voice, And its penetration in the innermost being is relentless. Her hands are a pure fragrance; thus I yearn, And h...

  In a small tavern, I sat, weary and worn.. The rain fell outside, Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, In my hand, a bouquet of roses, Yet she did not come; I am fatigued.. Long minutes passed, I gather, I subtract, I divide, I build palaces, I conquer deserts, I cut through valleys, I babble like a fool.. I travel from pole to pole, To the farthest sea in a small boat.. I watch the door; she may arrive, I watch my watch.. I stroke my beard, I sip my glass, In the throat of time, I flow, While my heart has frozen in my chest And my soul nearly perished. I am tired, I am bored, And the chair has become like a furnace, As if the vase mocks me, And the roses have turned to mercury. Will she come? No! She has not come; I am weary.. My reverie reached my ears, And distraction has shackled me at the elbow. At that moment, she sat beside me, “Forgive me, my love, for I gleam.. I have longed for you and my heart.. For your absence, it has grieved.” Then weariness collapsed, and the ice...

  If Only She Would Read You! Oh, you who adorn yourself, And perfume yourself.. and darken your eyes, And color your cheeks, and twirl around, With high heels and anklets, Like a gazelle, you sway gracefully.. Oh, you who smile at mirrors, And dance, until you tire, Sit beside me for a while, If only you could, just a little.. To read my verses. She laughed.. and stretched out.. Like a cat.. and lounged.. And turned away from me with her hair, Like a handkerchief of jasmine, Put, in your little bag, Some poetry from me, A short poem, And plant in its flesh, Your long nails.. And swim in its essence, At dawn.. or in the afternoon. Oh, you who make your face, A captivating issue, "The eye" for the eye, "And the Kaf" for the kohl, "And the Dhad" for the braid.. And glory to the red lipstick, And the alphabet.. all of it.. for you, Short dresses..