Poem #433

O you who cast a musky veil upon the moon's bright face,

You showed a kindness, casting shade upon the sun's own place.

What will the color of your cheek do to my heart and me?

You've cast a lovely, shifting trick upon the water, see!

You took the ball of beauty from the fair of Khalkh, rejoice!

Seek Keykhosrow's great cup, for you have stilled the tyrant's voice.

Each plays at love with your bright face, the candle of the night,

But you have cast the moth alone into a frantic flight.

You placed the treasure of your love within my ruined heart,

And cast the shadow of your grace upon this broken part.

Beware the water of that cheek! For lions thirst in vain,

And you have cast the turning spheres into a watery plain.

You stole the sleep of waking ones, and then with fancy's scheme,

Accused the night-walkers of theft, within a sleeping dream.

You lifted up your veil one moment in the marketplace,

And shamed the houris and the fays to hide their lovely face.

Drink from the World-Revealing Cup! For on King Jamshid's throne,

The Veil is lifted, and the Truth of Beauty is now shown.

By magic of your drunken eye and ruby wine-adore,

You cast the hermit Hafez down, to wine forevermore.

To hunt my heart, you cast your tress's chain about my neck,

Like the great King's lasso, that holds the world at his own beck.

The Judge, the Splendor of the Age! Before whose royal feet,

The sun casts down its golden crown in reverence complete.

King Nasrat al-Din Yahya, who with sword of fiery glow,

Has cast the kingdom's enemies like fire in water low.