Do Not Ask ...

       Do not ask me

       For that past love

       When I thought

       You alone illumined

       This entire world

       And because of you

       The sorrows of life

       Did not matter.

      
I thought

       Your beauty gave permanence

       To the colors of spring

       And your eyes were

       The only stars

       In the universe.

      
I thought

       If I could only make you mine

       Destiny would, forever, be

       In my hands.

      
Now I know

       There are afflictions

       Which have nothing to do with desire

       Raptures

       Which have nothing to do with love.

       On the dark loom of centuries

       Woven into

       Silk, damask, and goldcloth

       Is the oppressive enigma

       Of our lives.

       Everywhere--

       In the valleys and bazaars--

       Human flesh is being sold--

       Throbbing between layers of dust--

       Bathed in blood.

       The furnace of poverty and disease

       Disgorges body after body--

       Your beauty is still

       A river of gems

       But now I know

       There are afflictions

       Which have nothing to do with desire

       Raptures

       Which have nothing to do with love.

       My love, do not ask me ...

                                         -Faiz