English Translation: Literal: "Without you, I cannot find peace or become accustomed. Without the sight of your rose-like face, I cannot smell flowers. They say, 'Forget her so that she may go away.' Praise be to God, I may forget, but I do not forget her." Poetic: "Without your presence, …

English Translation: Literal: "I said I would no longer look at my beloved, and I would become a Sufi and not listen to the deniers. I saw that it was against my harmonious nature. I repented so that I would not repent again." Poetic: "I vowed to turn from love, …

English Translation: Literal: "What shall I do, not seeking the tranquility of my heart? And how can I not wander in search of it? They say, 'Do not go, for you will spill your own blood.' What shall I do while I am still caught in their snare?" Poetic: "How …

English Translation: Literal: "Whenever I cast my gaze upon the rose of your face, I wish to be like a narcissus that never blinks. Even if I sit among hyacinths and jasmine without you, I will sit like a violet and not raise my head." Poetic: "Whene'er I gaze upon …

English Translation: Literal: "I am servant of your cypress-like lofty stature, your Farhad, with your sweet-speaking like Shirin. My eye is on your mouth, and my ear is on your speech. From the love of your lips, I do not understand speech." Poetic: "Your cypress form, my lord, I do …

English Translation: Literal: "Do not think that I am weak in promise or faithless, and that my soul flees from your friendship. Even if my beauty's line is canceled, I will still read your line as a blemish." Poetic: "Believe not I'm unfaithful, weak of heart, Or from your love, …

English Translation: Literal: "The one who was the object of my heart's preoccupation has gone, and I, slain by the sword of injustice. They have returned, but without their former radiance, having brought upon themselves the inscription, 'I am deposed'." Poetic: "My heart once yearned for one, now lost to …

English Translation: Literal: "That friend whose sight adorns the eyes, Whose absence leaves me weeping through the night. For seeing them only, we need eyes, and if we don't see the friend, what use are eyes?" Poetic: "A friend whose gaze, my eyes with joy does light, Whose absence leaves …

English Translation: Literal: "If an arrow from your finger were to pierce my heart's vein, it would be better than coming before you. My heart desires enmity with you so that we can make peace and I can be by your side." Poetic: "If from your finger, love's sharp arrow …

English Translation: Literal: "I will rise, for this deliberation will last no longer. If the enemy strikes me with sword or arrow, if it is possible to grasp his sleeve, I will do so; otherwise, I will go to his threshold." Poetic: "I'll rise and face my foe, delay no …

English Translation: Literal: "Among the servants of my nature, I am more servile; and from the sight of the Divine, I am more cast down. Despite all this, the heart cannot help but love, so much so that the more it kills me, the more alive I am." Poetic: "A …

English Translation: Literal: "The long nights keep me awake more. Near dawn, I turn towards my pillow. I imagine that my eyes, without seeing my beloved, can sleep; I imagine it's a dream." Poetic: "Through endless nights, my vigil I keep, As dawn approaches, I seek slumber deep. I dream …