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A Longing |
O Lord! I have become weary of human assemblages!
When the heart is sad no pleasure in assemblages can be |
I seek escape from tumult, my heart desires
The silence which speech may ardently love! |
I vehemently desire silence, I strongly long that
A small hut in the mountain’s side may there be |
Freed from worry I may live in retirement
Freed from the cares of the world I may be |
Birds’ chirping may give the pleasure of the lyre
In the spring’s noise may the orchestra’s melody be |
The flower bud bursting may give God’s message to me
Showing the whole world to me this small wine‑cup may be |
My arm may be my pillow, and the green grass my bed be
Putting the congregation to shame my solitude’s quality be |
The nightingale be so familiar with my face that
Her little heart harboring no fear from me may be |
Avenues of green trees standing on both sides be
The spring’s clear water providing a beautiful picture be |
The view of the mountain range may be so beautiful
To see it the waves of water again and again rising be |
The verdure may be asleep in the lap of the earth
Water running through the bushes may glistening be |
Again and again the flowered boughs touching the water be
As if some beauty looking at itself in mirror be |
When the sun apply myrtle to the evening’s bride
The tunic of every flower may pinkish golden be |
When night’s travelers falter behind with fatigue
Their only hope my broken earthenware lamp may be |
May the lightning lead them to my hut
When clouds hovering over the whole sky be. |
The early dawn’s cuckoo, that morning’s mu’adhdhin
May my confidante he be, and may his confidante I be |
May I not be obligated to the temple or to the mosque
May the hut’s hole alone herald of morning’s arrival be |
When the dew may come to perform the flowers’ ablution
May wailing my supplication, weeping my ablution be |
In this silence may my heart’s wailing rise so high
That for stars’ caravan the clarion’s call my wailing be |
May every compassionate heart weeping with me be
Perhaps it may awaken those who may unconscious be |
Translated by: M.A.K. Khalil |
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