The Alley

Without you, on a moonlit night, again I passed through that alley
My whole being turned into eyes, searching for you in vain
The desire to see you overflowed from the cup of my existence
I became that mad lover I once was

In the hidden chamber of my soul, the flower of your memory shone
A garden of a hundred memories laughed
The scent of a hundred memories spread
I remembered that night we passed through that alley together
We spread our wings in that cherished solitude
We sat for a while by that stream

You, with all the secrets of the world poured into your dark eyes
I, wholly absorbed in the gaze of your look
The sky clear, the night serene
Fortune smiling, time subdued
Clusters of moonlight spilled into the water
Branches raised their hands to the moonlight
Night, desert, flower, and stone
All enchanted by the song of the nightingale

I remember, you told me:
Beware of this love!
Look for a moment at this water
Water is the ritual of fleeting love
You, whose gaze today is anxious with another
Tomorrow your heart will belong to others!
To forget, leave this city for a while!

I told you: Beware of love? I cannot!
To journey away from you? Never can I!
Never!

The first day my heart flew in desire for you
Like a dove, I perched upon your roof
You threw stones at me, yet I did not flee, nor break away
I said again: You are the hunter, I the gazelle of the plain
Until I fall into your snare, I wandered everywhere
Beware of love? I cannot, I cannot!

A tear fell from a branch
The night bird cried a bitter lament and fled
A tear trembled in your eyes
The moon laughed at your love!

I remember: I heard no answer from you again
I drew my feet into the lap of sorrow
I did not break, I did not flee
That night and the nights after sank into the darkness of grief
You gave no news to the wounded lover
Nor did you pass through that alley again

Without you, but oh, in what state I passed through that alley!