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Aisha al Bauniyya Excerpts from her poetry My friend, please, mention again the one I love. Despite my devotion to come to him, I can’t get enough as long as I live! Tales of passion for him have been told by me, And in spreading them arose a new life that will never end. So I can’t forget him; I can’t wait or be without him; I can’t be away from him. No. I can’t cope. My tears flow from passion; my heart is grilled by love For between my ribs is a fire burning me within. Critics blame my heart, but, my friends, it won’t be turned By their honeyed lies for they are masters of deceit. Yet, when I complained of my state, my love sickness, and tribulation, My heart answered: “This is not the way of one who loves. “To complain about what one encountered in love is a disgrace! “To die for him is nothing; misfortunes are adored for him!” So, do you think I can win his nearness curing all my ills? Being close to him is my highest goal and furthest desire, And I don’t mean by this, old loves like Salmá or ʿAlwá or Hind. My only aim is Him who knows the heart and love talk, One everlasting God Who shaped all creation. From Him, I hope for an honored place in the safe Abode of Eternity. […] When a breeze of acceptance wafts in, a deep love reminds me of union’s covenant, And when a flash of inspiration appears from my Lord, my eyes cloud up and pour. When the leader calls out His name as the caravan departs, desire wants my heart to stay, And when passion’s fire is kindled in my ribs, then, my friend, I take a drink from recollection’s cups. If critics belittle my claims to love, well, ancient is my tale of love for Him, And when others slander me because of Him, my every limb opposes them with passion. If all the world abandons me, recollection of him remains my heart’s close companion and friend. When the One I love is pleased, He guides me to the path of righteousness, the straight path, And He brings me to the pastures of acceptance and gives me a taste of inspiration’s fruitful knowledge. He gives me a drink from the spring of love, and I attain what I seek and desire, And He leads me to smell a scent on the breeze of nearness, reviving me, though the hot winds blow. He tears away the veils of pride and heedlessness that cloud the skies of the heart, So I behold the truth of Truth in every atom, and leave aside what passes and does not last. O, Lord, confirm my view of You, for You are, indeed, all-knowing of needs, most generous with grace!

Aisha al Bauniyya

Excerpts from her poetry

My friend, please,
mention again the one I love.
Despite my devotion to come to him,
I can’t get enough as long as I live!
Tales of passion for him
have been told by me,
And in spreading them arose
a new life that will never end.
So I can’t forget him;
I can’t wait or be without him;
I can’t be away from him.
No. I can’t cope.
My tears flow from passion;
my heart is grilled by love
For between my ribs is a fire
burning me within.
Critics blame my heart,
but, my friends, it won’t be turned
By their honeyed lies
for they are masters of deceit.
Yet, when I complained of my state,
my love sickness, and tribulation,
My heart answered:
“This is not the way of one who loves.
“To complain about what one encountered
in love is a disgrace!
“To die for him is nothing;
misfortunes are adored for him!”
So, do you think I can win
his nearness curing all my ills?
Being close to him is my highest goal
and furthest desire,
And I don’t mean by this, old loves
like Salmá or ʿAlwá or Hind.
My only aim is Him
who knows the heart and love talk,
One everlasting God
Who shaped all creation.
From Him, I hope for an honored place
in the safe Abode of Eternity.

[…]

When a breeze of acceptance wafts in,
a deep love reminds me of union’s covenant,
And when a flash of inspiration appears from my Lord,
my eyes cloud up and pour.
When the leader calls out His name
as the caravan departs, desire wants my heart to stay,
And when passion’s fire is kindled in my ribs,
then, my friend, I take a drink from recollection’s cups.
If critics belittle my claims to love,
well, ancient is my tale of love for Him,
And when others slander me because of Him,
my every limb opposes them with passion.
If all the world abandons me, recollection of him
remains my heart’s close companion and friend.
When the One I love is pleased, He guides me
to the path of righteousness, the straight path,
And He brings me to the pastures of acceptance
and gives me a taste of inspiration’s fruitful knowledge.
He gives me a drink from the spring of love,
and I attain what I seek and desire,
And He leads me to smell a scent on the breeze of nearness,
reviving me, though the hot winds blow.
He tears away the veils of pride and heedlessness
that cloud the skies of the heart,
So I behold the truth of Truth in every atom,
and leave aside what passes and does not last.
O, Lord, confirm my view of You, for You are, indeed,
all-knowing of needs, most generous with grace!