Love

To Whom That Wine-Red Ruby's Shown

by Wâsif d. c. 1820

Translated by E. J. W. Gibb (1882) · From Ottoman Poems (1882)

Love

To whom that wine-red ruby's shown
Is captive by those locks o'erthrown;
'Tis meet like nightingale I moan:
A lovely Scio Rose is blown.

Unmatched yon maid with waist so spare,
Unrivalled too her wanton air;
Her ways than e'en herself more fair:
A lovely Scio Rose is blown.

The roses like her cheeks are few;
That rose — blush-pink its darling hue;
This summer ere the roses blew,
A lovely Scio Rose is blown.

The rose — the nightingale's amaze;
The rose the nightingale dismays;
A smile of hers the world outweighs:
A lovely Scio Rose is blown.

O Wâsif, on the rosy lea,
The nightingale thus spake to me:
"Be joyful tidings now to thee —
A lovely Scio Rose is blown."

✦ ✦ ✦

Sharqi.

MLA

Wâsif. “To Whom That Wine-Red Ruby's Shown.” Translated by E. J. W. Gibb. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wasif/2/.

Chicago

Wâsif. “To Whom That Wine-Red Ruby's Shown.” Translated by E. J. W. Gibb. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wasif/2/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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