MIR TAQI.

I, like a poor fakir, Wander from door to door, Bearing my load of pain; But thou, O Ever-Dear, Thou comest never more Unto my door again.

SAUDA.

O changing Wheel of Fate, what thing is there Thou hast not in thy myriad cycles brought!

Wilt thou, indeed, I wonder in despair, Bring me at last what I so long have sought?

SAUDA.

I longed that the Beloved might come to me, Or Patience come and in my heart remain; But neither came, and now at last I see The only constant friend I have is Pain.

TABAN.

False is she, breaker of all promises, The heart's unending malady is she; All this and more she is, And she herself the only remedy.

Only in visions can I come again To the Beloved, and a shade she seems; My lips desire in vain The touch of ghostly kisses, The shadowy kisses that I know in dreams.

O kind imagination, thou hast given Eyes to my heart, and though She veil her grace Fold behind fold, they seek the hidden heaven, They find the secret beauties of her face.

I did not weep until my heart was lost, So strange the bartering of love appears, I gave the shining jewel of my soul To buy these pearls--my tears.

The eyes say in reproach, O wayward heart, What road of ruin hast thou led us in!

The heart complains, O eyes, Beguiled yourselves, ye lured me into sin.

GLOSSARY.

Bazar--market place.

Bulbul--nightingale.

Darwesh--devotee, dervish.

Diwan--collection of poems.

Ede--festival.

Fakir--an ascetic in Islam.

Ghazal--ode: form of verse written in couplets, all in one rhyme.

Hind, Hindustan--Upper India, north of the Vindhya Hills.

Islam--The religion of Muslims: lit. absolute surrender to Allah alone.

Kaaba--central sanctuary of Islam, at Mecca, holy city of Islam.

Kafir--unbeliever, one who is not a Muslim.

Kismet--fate.

Lakh--100,000: myriad.

Masnawi--epic poem, written in rhymed couplets.

Mecca, Medina--sacred places of Islam, in Arabia: the birthplace and burial place of Muhammad.

Muhammad--the Prophet of Islam (A.D. 570-632).

Mushaira--poetical concourse (see Foreword p. 1.).

Muslim--or Musulman; lit. one surrendered to Allah alone.

Prophet--see Muhammad.