Saturday, September 3, 2016

A Lover's Impatience

Dedication: To searching for one thing and finding another

I was searching for a specific citation through one of the books of Al-ʻIqd Al-Farīd by Ibn ʻAbd Rabbihi (d. 940)  when I came across the following couplet:



Attributed to "the poet," the verses are recited by Muhammad ibn Salām to Muhammad ibn Hārūn al-Amīn. Here is my rough translation:

Passion recollected, the lovesick one began to sigh
Head bowed, shame appeared upon his countenance.

Oh, one who tells me to be patient, have pity!
 Patience is never borne well by lovers.