S. R. Faruqi:

(1) Things so refulgent--do you think your hijab could ever hide them?
One side of your face, my dearest, is the sun; and the other, the moon.

(2) In a random guess she made me the target of her arrow,
although I, long-suffering and long-drinking, was at the outer limit of her bowshot.

(3) I slept the sleep of the negligent, not knowing the worth of those who are now gone.
It was as if my eyes opened only after those meetings and gatherings became dreams.

(4) Nothing here but things that cause discord and dissension with that greedy fellow.
I have no property, am wholly destitute, but the demand from there is for goods and merchandise.

(5) Has it seen its reflection in that ocean of beauty?
Is that why the whirlpool goes round and round its own self adoringly?

(6) The wonder is that no one, but no one, desires it,
even though the merchandise called fidelity in love is extremely hard to find.

(7) I was hoping my eyelashes would stop my tears from flowing out,
but was a flood tide ever arrested by straws?

(8) Come mix with us here on the lawn, saqi,
and bring your flagon of wine too, you cruel dispenser.
(9) The buds have blossomed this season in the garden in a cluster of color
just as close friends huddle together in camaraderie.

(10) Is it, Mir, that someone's ruby lips have taken possession of your heart?
Friend, there's pure blood flowing down your face all the time!

 

FWP:

(inspired by SRF's translation)

(1) As if things so bright could be hidden in a veil!
Your cheeks, beloved, are the sun and moon.

(2) Finally, at random, she made me her target--
Although I, suffering, was almost out of range.

(3) Heedlessly I ignored the worth of the departed ones.
As if my eyes opened only now, when those gatherings were dreams.

(4) Nothing but quarrels with that greedy one!
Here, there's only faqiri-- but she wants material goods.

(5) Has it seen that ocean of beauty, reflected inside itself?
For it constantly circles around itself-- the whirlpool.

(6) What's surprising is that no one at all wants it--
although it's rare and hard to find, the wealth of faithfulness.

(7) I hoped my eyelashes would stop the flow of tears, but
how can a few straws block the path of a flood?

(8) Come mix with us here in the greenery, Cupbearer--
and be sure and tuck under your arm, cruel one, the flagon of pure wine!
(9) This time the buds have emerged in such a style in the garden--
the way friends sit together, their heads intimately close.

(10) Have someone's ruby lips, Mir, taken over your mind?
Your face is now constantly flowing with blood.

 

Zahra Sabri:

Zahra Sabri is a special guest translator for this site.

(1) How can they be hidden by a veil, when they have such radiance?
Your fair cheeks are the sun and moon

(2) It was at random that she ultimately made me her target
Even though an afflicted person such as I was merely an arrow’s length away

(3) Heedless and oblivious, I didn’t value my departed companions
Now, it’s as if my eyes have opened, when those gatherings have faded to dreams

(4) There’s no relation except that of discord with that greedy one
Here there’s pure poverty, there a demand for property

(5) Has it sighted that ocean of beauty within its own self?
Seeing as each moment, the whirlpool circumambulates itself in devotion

(6) The astonishment is that absolutely no one wants it
Even though devotion is an extremely rare article

(7) The hope was that my tears would be stemmed by my eyelashes, but
Does the path of a flood become blocked by blades of grass?

(8) You come too and mix with us on the verdant greens, cupbearer
Clutching under your arm, oh cruel one, a flagon of pure wine
(9) This season, the buds have blossomed so vividly in the garden
As if old friends are seated, heads close in conversation

(10) How deeply someone’s ruby lips have taken possession of you, ‘Mir’
Blood flows down your face constantly