If you fall in Love with me,
I will make you utterly confused.
Don’t construct anything,
because in the end, I will destroy you.
Even if you make hives like a honey bee,
I will still make you homeless like a fly.
You want to make people admire you,
but I want to make you drunk and make you the admirer.
Even if you become the mountain of Kaf,
I will turn you around like a windmill.
If you become Plato or Loqman* in knowledge,
with only one look, I will make you ignorant.
You are like a dead bird in my hand.
I will set a trap for other birds along with you.
You are in front of the treasure, curled in sleep, like a snake.
But, I will make you writhe and wiggle like a wounded snake.
Whether you exhibit proof or not,
I will turn you into the kind of proof
which no one will be able to deny.
Whether you say, “La Havle”** or not,
I will make you La Havle to Satan-like flames.
O captive one, how long will you be covering yourself
with this and that?
You know there is that.
If you give up everything, I will make you that.
O shell, since you have come to our sea,
I will turn you into a shell which scatters pearls.
I will sacrifice you like Ishmael***
with the knife which cannot cut your throat.
Since you are Abraham, don’t be afraid of the fire.
I will create hundreds of rose gardens for you
inside of that fire.
Hold onto our robe if yours gets wet.
Hold it, so I can give you a robe made of moonlight.
I am good luck for you.
I cast my shadow on you.
That’s the way I will make you Fereydun,****
change you into a sultan.
Come to your senses. Read less.
Be silent. I will read.
I will turn you into the real Quran.
*Loqman A legendary doctor.
**La Havle Praise and submission: There is no strength or power but in God.
***Ishmael Second son of Abraham. Abraham brought Ishmael to Mount Moriah where, at God’s command, Abraham build a sacrificial alter to sacrifice Ishmael as a test of faith. At the last moment, an angel of God stopped him.
****Fereydun A famous, mythical Persian King.
Divan-i Kebir, Volume 9, Ghazal 84, verses 892-907, pages 135-136.