Shushtari

I drink wine from the cup

and from myself I approach myself

In myself it is myself I love

For it is my spirit, my reality

the fine wine that fills me and quenches my thirst

I care not what others may say

I seek in myself what I already have

Drink up in good health

the vintage ancient and pure

My allusions are from me and for me, so learn

Don’t resist me, understand

I am everything, the center of totality—accept this.

Forget about him and her, let go of Zayd and Mayya

Take pleasure in loving truly

What’s passing will pass away—but my life remains

My life is not separate from my qualities

for my essence is my all and my all is my essence

My essence shines like the sun

and from myself, I approach myself

in myself, it is myself I love

Original:

I was poured a cup of timeless love

not of this world, nor of heaven

In it I became unique in my time

bearing my banner amongst men

Mine is an amazing path of love unsurpassed

How lucky I am!

Hey you who love him, [know that] the beautiful one has many followers

If you are unkind to them, what misfortune!

Far be it from you, dear ones of Najd

to cut the ties of hope between you and me

 

Original:

سقيت كأس الهوى قديما      من غير أرضى ولا سمائى

أصبحت به فريدعصرى          بين الورى حاملا لوائى

لي مذهب مذهب عجيب          في الحبّ قد فاق ياهنائى

يامن همو للجميل أهيل نجد          أن تقطعوا منكمو رجائى

 

 

My drink and my ride are sweet

and my beloved takes care of me

O my friends, forgive me

my prostration and approach

A fine and fragrant wine

all light shines forth from it

The pourer pours it

May it be my reckoning

I am drunk on love

and I have no comfort without it

Whenever I call out: “O God!”

My response is: “at your service…”

 

Original:

طَابَ نُقْلِي وَشرَابي             وحَبيبي اعتنابي
فاعْذَرُوني يا صِحابِي       في سُجُودِي واقْترابِي
خمرةٌ رَاقَ شَذاهَا           كلُّ نُورٍ مِن سَناهَا
قَامَ سَاقِيها سَقَاهَا            أجْعَلَوهَا احتِسَابِي
أنَا سَكْرانُ مِن هَواهُ           لَيْسَ لي راحٌ سواهُ
كلَّمَا نَادَيْتُ يا هُو             كان لَبَّيْكَ جَوابي

 

 

My love served me cups

of a wine unpressed

the drink of the pure

in which all things appear

I took a sip

and fell for you, o majestic!

My bride was unveiled to me

and I saw nothing but perfection

My intoxication got me drunk

as it did other men

this wine revives souls

whoever drinks it gets drunk

unveiled to me like a bride

and I saw the sun and moon

Pay attention brother, hold your tongue

and hold on to this wondrous secret

so that the veils will be lifted from you

until you see the beloved

from yourself and in yourself, she is everyhting

if you understand or have insight

Go back to your essence and dive in

but don’t stop on the slopes

the commoners will languish in heedlessness

while you see your love openly

O you ignorant in these affairs

submit to what you see:

the wine goes ’round amongst us

and every one of us is drunk

see the men with us here

present with their hearts so full

See them all dancing

the secret is manifest in them

It was for this, they gave their souls

and their night has turned to day.

 

Original:

Your love served me many cups

Its glow illumined my senses

My night turned to day

The sun is mine and the stars

My throne contains the depths

My heart is the starless sphere

 

Your love served me many cups

When I turned from myself

I saw myself unveiling what was hidden

its meaning beyond the kingdoms of men

 

Your love served me many cups

If you like, I’ll tell you true

I’m a real faqir and wanton

Shushtari is unrepentant

I drink with my friend from the cup

 

Your love served me many cups

Look for me in the monastery

You’ll see me slumped among the casks

I love wantonly the one

who revives the souls of those who join him

Your love served me many cups

 

Original:

UB 40