Ghazal 139

I laid my face upon her path, and she did not pass by me —

I expected a hundred kindnesses, and she gave not one glance.

The flood of my tears could not drive malice from her heart —

on solid rock, a raindrop made no mark.

O Lord, protect that bold young one

who took no heed of the arrows of the recluses' sighs.

Fish and bird last night could not sleep from my wailing —

and see that shameless one, who did not lift her head from sleep.

I wished to die at her feet like a candle —

but she herself did not pass by me, like the dawn breeze.

O soul, what heartless, worthless one is it

who did not make his life a shield before the blow of your sword?

The tongue-cut pen of Hafez, in the assembly,

told no one your secret until it gave up its head.