Love and Poetry

Hafez al-Shirazi says:

"Glory to you, O Shiraz, O land of my beloved!

Never was there created a perfume to rival your holy melodies.

Your people have the gentleness of the angels and their charm...

And from the lips of your enchanting houris coral is gathered.

If my beloved wished for the blood of my heart, I would pour it out for him as he wills and desires, and I would fill his cup with it that he might drink deep, as a child drinks of its mother's milk!

But: does my beloved want the blood of my heart?!..."