A beam of Your beauty
shone forth in pre-eternity;
then love revealed itself
and set the universe on fire.
Your face appeared;
the angel saw it but felt no love.
Impelled by jealousy,
he caught fire and struck
the heart of mankind.
From that flame, reason lit its lamp;
a bolt of jealousy flashed
and threw the world in disarray.
The conceited one sought
to witness the mystery unveiled;
the hand of the unseen
struck the undeserving heart.
Others won a favorable destiny
and a life of plenty;
for its part, my woeful heart
received the sorrow of love.
My exalted soul yearned
for a glimpse of Your chin;
my hand reached up
and stroked the curls of Your hair.
Hafiz wrote “The Book
of the Joy Found in Loving You”
on the day he cut all ties
that bring solace to the heart.
[my translation]
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