TURKESTAN

Your face upon a drop of purple wine

Shows like my soul poised on a bead of blood.

From the Turkic of Hussein Baikrani.

Clear diamond heart,

I have been hunting death

Among the swords.

But death abhors my shadow,

And I come back

Wounded with memories.

Your eyes,

For steel is amorous of steel

And there are bright blue sparks.

Your lips,

I see great bloody roses

Cut in white dead breasts.

Your bed,

For I see wrestling bodies

Under the evening star.

From the Turkic.

Not a stone from my black sling

Ever misses anything,

But the arrows of your eye

Surer shoot and faster fly.

Not one creature that I hit

Lingers on to know of it,

But the game that falls to love

Lives and lingers long enough.

From the Turkic.