When ‘The Wine of Life is Drawn’

Translated by James E. Montgomery


Sin

1
Dappled with Moonbeams

It’s March, winter has gone, the trees
   are in bud and Time’s scent is sweet.
   Spring has dressed the earth in a patterned
   gown of flowers whose beauty dazzles
   the eye. Demand justice from Fate
   for its wrongs – Time has laid you low
   for too long. Banish decorum, let’s misbehave
   with a sharp red wine dappled
   with moonbeams, poured from the hand
   of a flirt with the moon for a brow
   and a gold dinar for a face, graced
   with a fawn’s eyes and neck, wearing
   a zunnār to torment me, drunk
...