THE PAINS OF LOVE


Love caught fire within my heart, and burned and blazed. 
Smoke whirling in the wind wrapped me like something crazed. 
Fate caught me, spinning me upon its wheel. 
who came to see me through the eyes of real desire? 
Separation was a storm - both flood and fire. 

Swept on, I gained the shores of love, shipwrecked - so null 
Real and unreal were hurricanes within my skull. 
I Fell exhausted, lost in wonderment. 
When love unsheathed its dagger yes, I caught its blade! 
Love stripped me naked, left me stranded without shade. 

My body held no strength, my corpse no uttering soul 
I staggered round, confused and far from whole, 
Not weary or alert, alive or dead. 
A cloud of sorrow sank to hide my sacrifice, 
As destiny's key turned and locked me in its vice. 

I had to fight to make grief's specter disappear: 
But Love instructed me and made the problem clear 
Love sorrowed and assisted me to heal. 
When beauty bloomed, it brought spring joys of a fresh start. 
I have to say all this is, dear friends ! It broke my heart. 

0, hopeful slave to the beloved's charms, whereby 
I lost my heart ! A songbird of sweet tongues was I - 
Encaged ! But separation scorched my soul. 
Then yearning burned me up, to ash was turned my mind. 
And Makhtumkuli's life was tossed upon the wind. 







PITY MY HELPLESSNESS


O friends, pity my helplessness 
Before a cruel destiny. 
My soul is wounded to its core - 
My own dear child was ripped from me. 

My time of happiness has flown, 
All tarnished is my golden throne, 
Chill autumn wind has overthrown 
My tender growing sapling tree. 

Untimely death, allowing no appeal, 
Has cast me down the well of pain !feel. 
My heart is shattered quite on fortune wheel - 
My feeble body is a falling tree, 

I cannot rest a moment, cannot stay - 
Not in this world of imminent decay 
I'm blind to everything except dismay, 
Which can but leave me weeping helplessly. 

Like moths aflame whichever way they dart 
Fly sorrows to the candle of my heart. 
My back is bowed, my eyes drip tears that smart 
To quench this anguish from fate's cruelty. 

Alas, how deeply sorrows burn ! 
I scream aloud, I scream and yearn 
To hold my son close. His return 
Alone might salve my beggary. 

So Makhtumkuli can't abate 
His cries, such is his inner state. 
His loss has left him desolate 
And black is all futurity.