Observations placeholder

Ibn El-Arabi - The Tarjuman al-Ashwaq, tr. Reynold A. Nicholson, [1911]

They mounted the howdahs on the swift camels and placed in them the (damsels like) marble statues and full moons,
And promised my heart that they should return; but do the fair promise anything except deceit?
And she saluted with her henna-tipped fingers for the leave-taking, and let fall tears that excited the flames.
When she turned her back with the purpose of making for al-Khawarnaq and as-Sadír,
I cried out after them, 'Perdition!' She answered and said, 'Dost thou invoke perdition?
Then invoke it not only once, but cry "Perdition!" many times.'
O dove of the arák trees, have a little pity on me! for parting only increased thy moans,
And thy lamentation, O dove, inflames the longing lover, excites the jealous,
Melts the heart, drives off sleep, and doubles our desires and sighing.
Death hovers because of the dove's lamentation, and we beg him to spare us a little while,
That perchance a breath from the zephyr of Ḥájir may sweep towards us rain-clouds,
By means of which thou wilt satisfy thirsty souls; but thy clouds only flee farther than before.
O watcher of the star, be my boon-companion, and O wakeful spy on the lightning, be my nocturnal comrade!
O sleeper in the night, thou didst welcome sleep and inhabit the tombs ere thy death.
But hadst thou been in love with the fond maiden, thou wouldst have gained, through her, happiness and joy,
Giving to the fair (women) the wines of intimacy, conversing secretly with the suns, and flattering the full moons.