Venice masks

Sunday, 9 May 2021

Gazal - Zeyneb

Cast off thy veil, and heaven and earth in dazzling light array! 
As radiant Paradise, this poor demented world display! 
Move thou thy lips, make play the ripples light of Kevser's pool! 
Let loose thy scented locks, and odours sweet through earth convey! 
A musky warrant by thy down was traced, and zephyr charged: 
" Speed, with this scent subdue the realms of China and Cathay!" 
O heart! should not thy portion be the Water bright of  Life, 
A thousand times mayst thou pursue Iskender's darksome way. 
O Zeyneb, woman's love of earthly show leave thou behind; 
Go manly forth, with single heart, forsake adornment gay! 

Zeyneb [Zeynep Hatun] (1420 - 1474) Turkey
Source: The sacred books and early literature of the East; with an historical survey and descriptions
by Charles Francis Horne, Parke, Austin and Lipscomb, Inc., 1917

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please keep your comments relevant and free from abusive language. Thank you. Note that comments are moderated so it may be a day or two before your comment is posted - irrelevant or abusive comments will not be published.