The fragrance spread by your hair enhances every sense
For my soul is bound by love and held in beauty's sway.
A letter could not describe the depths of my great pain.
So I give the morning breeze a message to relay.

You sit—your beauty enchants, you rise and hold in thrall
My two eyes that see your figure, lissome, slim and tall.
Your ways are graceful and kind. You win the hearts of all.
My ideal the Lord has made you—lovely, charming, gay!

Ah! Amber brought from the Yemen—your lips, so pure and fair!
When I picture them in my mind my heart writhes in despair.
Your beauty glows in a frame of jet-black waving hair,
Iridescence in it gleams—the drake's most vain display.

My love embellishes thoughts that heart-strings weave about you.
Most delightful words I hear when I can talk about you.
My love, my heart, o my soul! My life would end without you.
May the Lord protect my love from evil eyes I pray.

Vagif must languish in pain, if love he cannot win,
In the house of sorrow held—bitter, wan and thin.
Vagif suffers torments of hell—yet love is not a sin.
Oh, show mercy to Vagif, with love his pain allay.

Translated by Tom Botting

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