Who would have thought so cruel and fierce a tyrant in thee to see?

Thou who the newly oped rose art of the Garden of Paradise,

That every thorn and thistle thou lov'st—how can it fitting be?

I curse thee not, but of God Most High, Our Lord, I make this prayer—

That thou may'st love a pitiless one in tyranny like to thee.

In such a plight am I now, alack! that the curser saith to his foe:

"Be thy fortune dark and thy portion black, even as those of Mihri!"


POEMS OF NEJATI

FROM HIS SPRING QASIDA