The Invalid Opens His Eyes

By Imam Khomeini

O beloved, I was brought to this pitch by the beauty

spot on your lip;

Glimpsing your mischievous eyes half-opened, I became

love sick.

I became unconscious, free of self, and started to

beat the rhythm

of Ana’l-Haqq

On the kettledrum; like Mansour, I asked for the

scaffold.

My beloved’s pain inflamed my heart, so I grew

ecstatic,

And thus became the scandal of the bazaar.

Day and night, leave open the tavern for me

Because I’m weary of mosque and madrassah.

I’ve shed the garments of asceticism and hypocrisy,

I donned the patched cloak of the pir and sobered

down.

The city preacher’s advice put me off and so tortured

me,

That only the intoxicated breath of the drunkard

afforded me relief.

Let me mention but once the idol-house, for it was the

hand

Translated by Mevlut Ceylan

posted 29 June 2005