In honor of the Prophet’s Birthday, we present this work by one of medieval Islam’s greatest poets.

 

On the mornings they left
we said goodbye
filled with sadness
for the absence to come.

Inside the palanquins
on the camels’ backs
I saw their faces beautiful as moons
behind veils of gold cloth.

Beneath the veils
tears crept like scorpions
over the fragrant roses
of their cheeks.

These scorpions do not harm
the cheek they mark.
they save their sting
for the heart of the sorrowful lover.

Translation by Cola Franzen

 

Every night I scan
the heavens with my eyes
seeking the star
that you are contemplating.

I question travelers
from the four corners of the earth
hoping to meet one
who has breathed your fragrance.

When the wind blows
I make sure it blows in my face:
the breeze might bring me
news of you.

I wander over roads
without aim, without purpose.
Perhaps a song
will sound your name.

Secretly I study
every face I see
hoping against hope
to glimpse a trace of your beauty.

Translation by Emilio García Gómez and Cola Franzen

We present this work in honor of Muharram.

 

When I saw Dawn come
shaking dew from her clear brow
I said to my love:

“I’m afraid the sun will discover
our secret,” but she said,

“Please God that my brother
not discover me!”

Translation by Cola Franzen

 

His manifold movements
toy with hearts.
He removes his garments
and is clothed in enchantment.

Supple as a branch
playful as a gazelle
his undulating motions
dally with the intelligence
of onlookers
as fate makes playthings of men.

And when he presses down on his head
with his feet
he is like a well-tempered sword
bent double
tip touching the pommel.

Translation by Cola Franzen

We present this work in honor of Eid al-Adha.

 

The garden of green hillocks
dresses up for visitors
in the most beautiful colors

as if a young woman’s dowry
were spread out
glittering with gold necklaces

or as if someone had poured out
censers of mush powder
mixed with the purest aromatic oils.

Birds trill on the branches
like singing girls
bending over their lutes

and water falls continuously
like neckchains
of silver and pearls.

These are splendors of such perfection
they call to mind
the beauty of absolute certainty
the radiance of faith.

We present this work in honor of Eid-al-Fitr.

 

Look at the ripe wheat
Bending before the wind

Like squadrons of horsemen
Fleeing in defeat, bleeding
From the wounds of the poppies

Translation by Cola Franzen

We present this work in honor of the first day of Ramadan.

 

Don’t cross me off as fickle
because a singing voice
has captured my heart.

One must be serious sometimes
and lighthearted at other times:

like wood from which come
both the singer’s lute
and the warrior’s bow.

Translation by Cola Franzen

We present this work in honor of Isra and Mi’raj.

 

Pale as the morning star
in the hour of sunrise

he advances proudly,
caparisoned with a saddle of gold.

One who saw him going with me
into battle, envied me and said:

“Who bridled Dawn with the Pleiades?
Who saddled lightning with the half moon?”

Translation by Cola Franzen

We present this work in honor of the poet’s 710th birthday.

 

With my jewels and with my crown I surpass the most beautiful,
And before me the stars of the zodiac all bow down …
It is as though I had received the gift of that bounty which
Flows from the hand of my lord Abu al-Hajjaj

 

The goblets were heavy
When they were brought to us

But filled with fine wine
They became so light

They were on the point of flying away
With all their contents

Just as our bodies are lightened
By the spirits

Translation by Cola Franzen