I ASKED MY LOVE

I asked my love: "Why do you make yourself so beautiful?"

"To please myself.

I am the eye, the mirror, and the loveliness;

The loved one and the lover and the love."

From the Persian of Abu-Said (978-1062).

A REQUEST

When I am cold and undesirous and my lids lie dead,

Come to watch by the body that loved you and say:

This is