Thousand & One Nights: 141st Night: The Lame Young Man & Baghdad Barber -3
The old woman looked at me and recited the following verses:
No by her radiant brow and rosy cheeks. My eyes turned when she left the place, like an eyeless man
I rolled along in my confusion
Stumbling in her trace.
She was a nimble deer used to run
A cruel mistress, a heart of stone
She set my heart on hellish fire
And I a misfit alien and alone,
Cheeks in dust and eyes in tears,
Mourning the old days and love.
Helpless I grieve, what avails,
I am dead without her, not in grave,
Haunted by everlasting memories
Of her face where no joy or rage.
Heart with grief and soul expire,
Of heart of silver in a marble cage!
Consumed with love and impatience
I watched my rivals pressing in turn
Unable to reproach them, their love
O will the good old days return ever?
How my soul forbear or forget
Her slender body and lovely face, Like shining sun dazzled the world
And I held her in an ardent embrace
Fondling her cheeks, silk renowned
My love is constant never changed
Always loved and ever will love
We lived in bliss and happiness.
Morning overtook Shahrazad and she lapsed into silence.
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