Herein is set forth the Ode spoken by Leyla in which she
demonstrated her perfect understanding of Majnun.
Though lovely, she who never makes a gift
A page from the Divan-ı Fuzuli, the collected poems of the 16th-century Ottoman poet Fuzuli. A page from the collected poems of Fuzuli.
Of all her beauty to her lover dear
Remains imperfect, lacking still the clear
Bright spirit of perfection. Little shrift
Is due to Beauty that attracts no Love:
Incapable of being loved is she
Who still attraction holds not: for above
Its mere possession is the power of lovely face.
For ever kept in secret hidden place
Where those who value not may never see,
Where those, that lack the knowledge mystical,
God’s handiwork find all unmagical.
That man who seeks a sweet communion
With beauty, but with flesh needs union.
But he who knows of sweet perfection found,
Twixt union and separation finds
No difference, for he knows how each is bound
To each, afar and near the spirit binds
While en his loved one every lover spends
The riches of his life, forgiving all
The cruelties that from his loved one fall.
All beauties haply seek to gain their end
By sweet coquettish airs, the lover true
Knows well reality stays not in new
Sweet scented lock, or freshly painted mole.
No beauty of itself may make him whole.
Fuzuli, see how in the world so wide
Thou roamest, still ascetic, still untried
Within thy ignorance all unaware
Of how they end, all those who true love dare.
Muhammad Fuzuli (1498-1556)
Translated by Sofi Nuri
I am searching for an arabic poem verse that reads something like
You can see the power of God by observing the failure of those capable of perfection
A beautifil poem – disdainful of mortal love/ and for the love of spirit/ it seeks instead.
I have re-read it with great enjoyment.