If you offer me love.....

[Pheena]

Don't take the cup away from me

before I've had enough to drink

Your promises are charming

but I am not a fool.

Be more giving or I will have to rob you,

you raise your price to discourage me

but I am not naive and won't give up so easily.

Come out of hiding, open the door and let me in

I am at your mercy, the slave of your smile.

I put on airs to impress you,

even your scolding inflames my passion.

You are the music within music that stole my heart.

If I see beauty it's because I look through your eyes

but when I come back to myself

I find no one there.

Still you are not content, what more do you want?

My king, I am your falcon and when I hear your drum

I will spread my wings.

If you offer me your love I'll be drunk with joy,

but if you do not, I will accept,

lower my head and surrender.

-- Ghazal (Ode) 1394

Translated by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi

Rumi: Hidden Music

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2001