Ghazal - Molana Rumi

Open your lips, for abundant sugar candy is my desire; show your cheek, for the garden and rosebed are my desire.

In one hand a flask of wine, in the other the beloved’s tress— such a dance in the midst of the maidan is my desire.

You said, ‘Torment me no more with your coquetry: begone!’ That saying of yours, ‘Torment me no more, ‘ is my desire.

O reason, become out of yearning a babbler of words confused; O love, distracted subtleties are my desire.

This bread and water of heaven are fickle as a torrent; I am a fish, , a leviathan Oman is my desire.

My soul has grown aweary of Pharaoh and his tyranny; that light in the breast of Moses, Imran’s son, is my desire.

Last night the Elder wandered about the city with a lantern saying, ‘I am weary of demon and monster: man is my desire.’

My heart is sick of these feeble spirited fellow travellers; the Lion of God and Rustam i Dastan, are my desire.

I said, ‘The thing we quested after is never attained.’ He said, ‘The unattainable—that thing is my desire!’