بشار بن برد - منَ المشهورِ بالحبِّ "Whoever would be Renowned in Hanky-Panky" by Bashar ibn Burd

منَ المشهورِ بالحبِّ إِلَى قَاسِيَة ِ الْقَلْبِ

 سَلاَمُ اللّه ذِي الْعَرَشِ على وجهكِ ياحبِّي

فأمَّا بعدُ يا قرَّة َ عيني ومنى قلبي

ويا نفسي التي تســكُنُ بَيْنَ الْجَنْبِ والْجَنْبِ

لقدْ أنكرتُ يا عبدَ جفاءً منكِ في الكتبِ

أعَنْ ذَنْبٍ وَلاَ واللَّهِ مَا أحْدَثْتُ مِنْ ذَنْبِ

ولاَ والله ما في الشَّرْقِ منْ أنثى ولاَ الغربِ

سِوَاكِ اليوم أهواها على جدِ ولا لعبِ

Whoever would be renowned in hanky-panky, ought to become hardhearted.
Your semblance is the peace that surpasses all understanding, honey.
So then, my darling and the destiny of my heart,
Yeah even my soulmate who resides here within this home.
Certainly I don´t know what you mean, Abbey, the messages from you were so harsh.
A howler? No, by God, what have I made for a howler?
No, by God, not in the East, nor in the West, there is no handmaiden
except you. Today I dropped her, in all seriousness and no hoax.*

translated by Mark F Westergreen

Meaningful glances alone can still be ambiguous or unsatisfying. Gifts are more substantial, and as fetishists go, few can outdo the lover who dropped her used toothbrush that Bashar ibn Burd picked up. The grateful poet said, "I kissed the thing that touched her mouth, and wished I were it."

*the last line can also be read:

Today I picked up your toothbrush, in all seriousness and it didn't dash hopes.