S. R. Faruqi:

(1) Although you never do so, yet I beg you, please look at me and look--
I long for you to turn toward me and look.

(2) Love exposes me to hardship in such quantity and variety
that you too would cast an eye and look!

(3) Perspiration on her face glows
like the dew on the rose, just look.

(4) Each scratch on my forehead became a gash.
It's the artwork of loving fingernails--just take a look.

(5) I longed for smiling lips.
Instead I was given eyes that weep. Do you see?

(6) It tugs at the heart, even the color has fled.
Stay here another night, until it becomes morning, and see.

[It is apparently the lover's face whose color has faded in disunion. But there are other possibilities, which I have tried to preserve through ambiguity: (1) The lover will make such torrid, stormy love through the night that his color will fade (due to exertion); (2) the beloved's color will fade because of the same exhausting, stormy participation in the lovemaking; (3) the flowers that were fresh last night have now wilted overnight; (4) it is the color of the night that fades as morning arrives; in other words, the dawn is especially beautiful here at my dwelling.]

(7) The heart prepares to defy love.
A mere drop of blood, and such nerve, just see!

(8) I am near to dying,
about to leave for a faraway place, if you would but reflect a moment and look.

(9) Mir, I too have any number of delightful graces.
I am worth a glance--if you would just consider and look.

 

FWP:

(inspired by SRF's translation)

(1) When do you ever look? But do look!
I long for you to cast a look this way.

(2) Passion shows me so many things--
Ah, if only you too would take one look!

(3) On that face perspiration shows itself
like dew on a rose-- just look.

(4) Every scratch on my face is a wound.
Look at the skill of the fingernails of ardor.

(5) I longed for smiling lips.
So instead-- look at these wet eyes.

(6) Long-gone colors catch hold of the heart.
One single night-- and here, look at the dawn.

(7) The heart has stood up, confronting love.
A mere drop of blood-- and look at its guts!

(8) I have arrived near death.
That is, if you look, I'm going far away.

(9) In me too are thousands of subtleties, Mir.
I'm worth seeing-- if you think a bit, and look.

 

Zahra Sabri:

Zahra Sabri is a special guest translator for this site.

(1) Even though you don’t look, but look
My longing is that you look here

(2) Passion puts me through so very much
Alas! You too please take a look

(3) Sweat gleams on that face in such a splendid way
As dew on a flower – look!

(4) Every scratch on the forehead is a wound
Look at the accomplishment of the nail of passion

(5) I had a longing for happy, smiling lips
So, in place of that, look at these weeping eyes

(6) The colour that has fled also tugs at the heart
For another night, look at the dawn here

(7) The heart has become love’s adversary
Look at the daring of this drop of blood

(8) I have drawn near to dying
Meaning that I’m departing far away, if you but look

(9) There are thousands of elegant delights in me too, ‘Mir’
I am worth seeing, if you consider and look